Dear Angela,
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog! It's my fave! I was wondering: What are some activities that you would recommend I do with my grandchildren? (They're coming to visit me three weeks from now.)
Josephine DiChiaria
Hi, Josephine. So
glad you asked! I love the activities that allow for
a lot of one-on-one face time. With my grandchildren, I look forward to playing card games. I just know they will love playing Gin Rummy. Card games will help me teach them long-lasting lessons about being a good sport and always playing fair. And it will allow us
to bond over a shared interest.
Looking for other activity suggestions? Here are five:
- Paint watercolor portraits.
- Set up a lemonade stand.
- Build a birdhouse.
- Teach him or her how to play marbles.
- Stare at clouds.
Dear Angela,
Here's my question: We hear all the time about the First Lady and her children. Has there ever been a First Grandma?
George
Hi, George! Thanks for your question. The answer is yes! There is a long history of grandparents living in the White House. Ulysses S. Grant's father-in-law lived in the White House, as did Woodrow Wilson's mother-in-law and Harry S. Truman's mother-in-law.
According to the U.S. Census, at least 5.7 million American grandparents live in the same home with their grandchildren. We should all be so lucky!
Though I
am not the First Lady and none of my children are the President of the United States, I would love to live with my kids and grandkids one day. Of course, my daughter Jane still lives in a so-so one-bedroom apartment by herself, but I think she's finally coming around buy viagra no prescription
to the idea of settling down. There are several young men in her life who would make wonderful fathers. If only she would choose one already! ( … And trust me. I know a thing or two about what makes a good husband. Maybe if my ex hadn't been a two-timing louse, I wouldn't be spending my golden years breaking my back as a waitress.)
Anyhow. There are a number of reasons why I believe it makes sense to have different generations living under the same roof. Nowadays, lots of women work outside of the home, and instead of paying a stranger to take care of your children, why not have family do it? Who's better equipped to raise my grandchildren than me?! Also, I can do chores around the house like light cleaning and cooking. All I really need is a small bedroom. I could even live in the children's room until they are a little older! And if a dinner invitation comes up unexpectedly? You've always got a babysitter on hand if Grandma is at home. You may not live in the White House, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be treated like First Grandma!
]]>posts exploring the relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild. Another one of my readers recently wrote in:
Dear Angela,
Terrific blog! My granddaughter Jessenia is coming to stay with me next weekend. Her mother insists on an 8:30pm bedtime and only organic food. At Grandma's house, do I have to enforce the same rules? 
Lorena G.
Hi, Lorena! Great question. Parents are parents. And grandmothers are grandmothers! If, for instance, my daughter Jane had a daughter—let's just call her Rosie—then when Rosie came over to my house, Rosie would have to follow Grandma's rules, not her mother's rules. I'd be allowed to give Rosie candy. I'd be allowed to let Ro
sie watch an extra hour of television. And I'd be allowed to
play board games with Rosie until the wee hours. That's just what grandmas were made for!
I remember the first time that Jane had a sleepover at her Grandma's house. Jane was so excited. My mother took Jane on the Orange Line from the North End to Chinatown and let Jane order whatever she wanted! And when they got home, Jane and her grandmother drank hot chocolate and played chess until late. Well, I heard about that sleepover for weeks! In comparison to Grandma, I felt like the evil stepmother from a fairy tale! My own mother had showed me up! And Jane kept talking about how Grandma's house was the best! But that's when I realized: It's all part of the job description … Grandmas don't have to follow the rules!
]]>her grandchild. One of my readers recently wrote in:
Dear Angela,
I love your blog! Here's my question: It seems like my grandson Josh is always busy playing video games! He just doesn't seem interested in me. What can I do to form a closer relationship with him?
Jenny
Hi, Jenny! Thank you for your question! Kids sure do love their video games. Well, it may seem like you just can't compete, but guess what? You've already
won! You are Josh's grandmother!
I remember when Jane was a little girl. She was always so interested in sports. My buy cialis mother hardly knew what to do with this little tomboy! So they started with jump rope. (Jane did love to jump … She became a star in track and field in high school.) Well, they had a ball and were out on the sidewalk playing until dark. Then, the next time, my mother started teaching Jane how to play chess (my mother had learned how to play from her grandfather). Before we knew it, Jane didn't want to jump rope or watch sports, she just wanted to play chess with Grandma! ]]>
it
makes them feel better, and that's the point! But the photos I love the mos
t are the photos that grandparents show me of their grandchildren. For me, the relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild is a very, very special bond. It's a simple relationship. It's a loving link made up of respect and caring. And when it's time for Grandma to go home, she goes home! L.O.L.! This relationship (if you are lucky enough to have grandchildren) is a way for everyone to see the importance of family and the passing on of traditions.
Do you have a special grandchild in your life? What traditions will you pass on?
]]>on me to guide, counsel or chastise. When they needed me to reassure them everything was going to be okay, when they needed a friend, a hot fudge sundae or just a hug from mom. The good ol' days.
Now, my children are adults.
Grown children are an entirely different story – you'd be surprised just how much they react and respond to things just like their younger selves, only now they have to 'prove' they're adult enough to handle what life throws at th
em. It's funny, most of the time.
I can almost predict what each child – er, excuse me, each adult child will do when presented with something they don't have a ready answer to.
Jane, my oldest, will complain, make wise cracks and solve the problem. My middle son will look to his big sister for guidance before making a decision, and the youngest … well, let's just say the youngest still has difficulty making the right choices.
Still, I'm grateful that they're all relatively happy, and still trying to live their lives to the fullest. What more can a mom ask for? Except grandchildren!
]]>I'm not saying that a family vacation is work, but as I've blogged before, each member of the family has their strengths and weaknesses. So when it comes time to go on vacation, certain people should be in charge of the planning, and other people should not.
I'm usually in charge of the planning. I'm the one who decides where we go, where we stay, and what we eat. The men in the family are in charge of carrying the luggage. And if unforeseen circumstances arise, it is always good to
have them on call!
One vacation in particular comes to mind. It was 1991, and we were down in Florida. We were just settling into the hotel room. There was a little kitchenette in the corner, and Tommy went over and turned on the faucet. Suddenly, water started shooting out of the pipe from under the sink! Tommy started yelling at the top of his lungs, and before we knew it, we were all standing in an inch of water. The Rizzolis did not miss a beat. Before I could call the front desk, Tommy ran to get a bucket. Frank and his father wrapped a
towel around the leaking joint. And Jane followed the pipe to the main valve and shut it off. Whew! Those were a long five minutes, but the Rizzolis rallied, as usual. Our hotel could not have dreamed of better
guests!
]]>Hopefully, not many, but for the events that shake everything up, you've got to put your big girl panties on. And wear a belt – don't want 'em to fall down during a crisis.
I see myself in the mirror every day … see what time has placed on my face, and I'm not scar
ed – okay, I'm a
little fearful about what's ahead, but I know who I am. I'm tough – I gave birth to three kids with no drugs, this I know. I'm capable, on most days confident, and I like to look on the bright side of things.
That's not so bad, right?
So, when I start asking myself those pesky little questions about how I got here, who am I …
? I just tell myself, I'm here because I want to be here, and that's okay.
]]>I ate – while he held Jane!
]]>I really didn't consider the possibilities of my kids getting older and leaving home, or the fact my husband would some day no longer want to be married. Once
those re
alities became my reality, I had to start over and change the way I valued myself, looked at the world and where I now fit in.
I'm making some progress. I work outside the home now, feeding people. Something I've always enjoyed. And while I still don't have all the answers, I'm closer to where I was say
a year ago. And that makes me feel good, stronger. Starting over, once you get past the fear, can be a good thing.
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