October 20, 2018

The Saturday post: How do you want to be remembered?

October 20, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Happy Saturday, friends!

Today I’m sharing with you a brief video bit I came across, from New York Times best-selling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal on kindness. It’s a thoughtful, thought-provoking piece that earned “Winner of Best Animation” at the Peace On Earth Film Festival in 2011.

August 10, 2018

BTS 2018: School boys and other stuff

August 10, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

My three desert-dwelling grandsons started school on Tuesday. Declan delighted in taking part in first-day photos for the first time as he began half-day preschool the same morning his brothers headed to big-boy school. This year Camden is a first-grader, and Brayden—believe it or not …

October 13, 2017

National Bullying Prevention Month: Resources for grandparents

October 13, 2017/ Lisa Carpenter

In recognition of October being National Bullying Prevention Month, my fellow GRANDparent Network members Leslie and Kay at Grandparents Link interviewed a couple kids on bullying.

Take a look at their exclusive Frankly Kids: Bullying video (which they gave me permission to share):

August 04, 2017

BTS tradition: 10 ways to support school-bound grandchildren (plus a few extra)

August 04, 2017/ Lisa Carpenter

Ah, back-to-school time. The past few years at this time, I've shared the following post from my archives. It's always gotten a great response — because grandparents are awesome and want to be involved in the education of their grandkiddos — so I hereby pronounce this post an annual BTS tradition.

This time around I've updated it in a few ways, including adding suggestions from other grandmas who shared tips in comments on the post in the past. (Thank you, ladies!)

10 WAYS TO SUPPORT SCHOOL-BOUND GRANDCHILDREN
Originally published August 6, 2013

My daughter Megan is not only the mother of my awesome grandsons, she was also an elementary school teacher for several years before MOM became her full-time job. Here are a few suggestions she and I came up with for supporting school-bound grandchildren in ways that will garner an A+ not only from the kids, but from their parents and teachers, too.

back to school ideas for grandparents

1. Send a care package to be opened the night before school starts. Consider adding new cozy jammies to help ease...

November 05, 2015

National Family Caregivers Month and 'Doing The Right Thing'

November 05, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

November is Family Caregivers Month, which recognizes the challenging work of the more than 65 million people—29 percent of the U.S. population—who provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend (according to National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP). More importantly, the campaign stresses the need for those around the caregiver to offer support... and breaks from the job, when possible.

I am not a caregiver. I'm fortunate in that my own mother fares well on her own at this point and doesn't require care. My mother-in-law does, though. Professionals in the nursing home where she resides provide her primary care. Jim's sister Sue, who lives near the home, tirelessly offers Mom the nearly daily love, care, and attention only a family member can provide—despite Sue having a full-time job and busy life of her own, needs of her own.

family caregiver

Sue is, without doubt, the hero of...

September 28, 2015

A Brave Heart, plus GRAND Social No. 174 link party for grandparents

September 28, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

A Brave Heart

A Brave Heart film

My husband and I watched an incredible documentary yesterday called A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY, courtesy a free, no-obligation screener from the filmmakers. It's the amazing, heartbreaking, inspiring...

July 30, 2015

Back to school already? 10 ways to support school-bound grandchildren

July 30, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

Unbelievable as it seems, it's time for students to return to school, some as early as next week. In light of that, I'd like to once again share with you ideas on how grandparents can support and encourage their grandchildren in academic endeavors. Though my daughter Megan is on break from teaching—and she has three sons now, not two—her ideas as well as the others in this post are still a great way to make a difference for your school-bound grandkiddos.

Kids of all ages will soon head back to school — if they haven't already. Though Mom and Dad play the starring role in supporting their children's educational efforts, grandparents have plenty of opportunities to make their mark, too.

My daughter Megan is not only the mother of my two awesome grandsons, she's also a teacher. Here are a few suggestions she and I came up with for supporting school-bound grandchildren in ways that will garner an A+ not only from the kids, but from their parents and teachers, too.

1. Send a care package to be opened the night before school starts. Consider adding...

Click to continue reading...

December 02, 2014

3 easy ways to give a hand on #GivingTuesday

December 02, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

Today is Giving Tuesday and as a social ambassador for the special campaign that encourages folks to simply give of oneself in any way — monetary or non monetary — I'm here to give you easy peasy ways to give a hand to the effort.

give a hand on giving tuesday

FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT

Like...

November 25, 2014

10 non-monetary ways to give on #GivingTuesday

November 25, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

The week ahead is pretty much lined up for us all. There's Thanksgiving on Thursday, then Black Friday followed by Cyber Monday. After that is Giving Tuesday. Other than Turkey Day, Giving Tuesday is the most important of the holiday week, in my mind.

giving tuesday ideas