Last week, I had a very frightening experience.  My husband awoke at seven in the morning, and his whole body was shaking so badly that I had to hold on to him so that he wouldn’t fall off of the bed.  He had a raging fever, and so I called 911.  The Paramedics examined him and took him to the hospital where he was admitted.  After a few hours, my husband was in his room and went to the bathroom. As he was washing his hands he looked into the mirror and said  me:  “Where did I get those bags under my eyes?”   I looked at him with a smile and replied:  “You don’t have your glasses on right now, but that’s the way you’ve looked without them for years.”  He was horrified!!  “I can’t believe I look like this without my glasses,” he stated .  I began to laugh and said:  “Welcome to the world of Senior Citizens Aging.  I’ve been using lotions and creams for years to ward off the ‘bags’ of old age.  Now it‘s your turn.”  He was only in the hospital for  few days, but since his return to home, he has read every one of my Women’s Magazines on wrinkles, bags and skin aging.  I dread seeing the credit card bill at the end of the month - since he has ordered every imaginable cream, lotion and promise of “no wrinkles” on the printed page.  Oh well, maybe he’ll find the “real fountain of youth” that will make me look younger too!

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I'm finally beginning to feel as though people are giving grandparents more thought these days.  Even Walmart and Target are  hiring seniors, recognizing we still have a lot to give.  Seniors, like and want to work.  Especially, if they don't have a family.  A part time job  can be a social experience, besides, adding extra income.

I'm hoping you'll also think of grandparents as a source of knowledge.  After all, we've lived longer and that means we've experienced more.  As you age, most of the time, you also mellow.  This can make you a kinder and gentler person to speak with.  Sometimes, that's all someone wants..just to vent.   Speaking with a grandparent or senior might be the solution. 

Grandparents today, can offer advice without conditions.  I realize some of the sitcoms, portray inlaws, or grandparents as pests. I think otherwise, my mom was always wiser, not usually calmer however, I almost hated he advice, because most of the time she was right...... Therefore, if you have a grandparent, parent, or senior you can talk too, and things just aren't going well, think about speaking with them.  Sometimes just talking helps.  And if there is good advice as well, listen, process and make some changes..  You never know, it could make your life better.  At least improve your day  As for the person your speaking with that grandparent or senior...they'll feel pretty good as well. 

Dorothy from grammology
call your grandma
htp://grammology.com

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I have really enjoyed the Mike Leonard stories on The Today Show this week. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20840448/  He is traveling with his parents, ages 85 and 94, and his children who are in their late 20s or early 30s. 

This is the second series he's covered while traveling around the country with his family.  In the last one they all piled into two RVs for a month!!  This time they are in a van going to his dad's alma mater, to the cemetary where their daughter who died in childbirth in 1944 was buried, and many stops in between.  It's kind of a video journal/"This Is Your Life Show".   It is just so very touching to watch these intimate feelings shared, as well as the mundane. 

However, the main thing that comes across in these stories is the humor which they use in dealing with life's ups and downs.  I love that the grandchildren and now great grandchildren are getting to know their grandparents even better by learning about their life experiences. 

As far as the humorous part, that is the kind of grandparent I want to be!!

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My father (the only Grandpa my son has ever known) has been in the hospital twice this summer. The first was for a back surgery for which he has been recoving nicely; the second was for pneumonia. My son shows concern, sympathy -- calls, visits (Grandpa lives in Florida so it's not a hardship exactly!) and sends notes and emails. It's interesting to watch my son --sometimes he is very concerned, but after a few moments it's like he decides not to be worried. Ah, childhood! I tend to appreciate this division of feelings, because, after all, a 12-year-old's world doesn't typically include doctors, hospitals, therapy, medicines, etc. Thank goodness. And yet, it is how we learn compassion o help support people we love.  Sometimes my son wishes his Grandpa could visit us again (it will be a little while until he can travel); sometimes he doesn't understand if his Grandpa forgets something or says the same thing to him half a dozen times in a  weekend (surgery can be very hard on the memory). But we talk about it, we take a walk to put some space and time between us, and again, we cover compassion and empathy as characterstics to embrace as we mature. It's not perfect, but it's a start. Just wondering if anyone else has had to deal with some of these issues and what your advice might be?

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I just spent the weekend at my parents' house which is 5 hours away.  They have lived in their current house for 25 years and are considering moving to my city, now that my brother and  his family are moving away from our hometown.  My parents are pretty involved in their community but at ages 70 and 72, they want to be near family . 

My husband seems to be having a hard time with this, playing devil's advocate a little too strongly, in my opinion.  We have never lived near family and I am excited about the prospect!  I suspect he's worried that my mom and dad will be at our house every day!  Even though we are very close, I don't think they will. 

So my question is this....how do grandparents balance supporting, loving and being with their adult children and grandchildren with giving them their own space too?  Have you found a solution that works for you?

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Noah age 4 and William age 12 will be visiting this weekend.  Joe and I have already made a list for food and snacks to buy..and what we might do for the weekend.

Most of the time spent with the kids is fun..However, we do try to have them clean up and keep things tidy, after we finish playing with a toy or a game.

Because we will have the children on Sunday  I have a question.  Their parents generally go to church as a family, when grandparents keep their grandchildren do you think it's our responsibility to take them to church in the parents absence?  By the way, I don't have an opinion yet..your going to help me have one....thank you..

Dorothy from grammology
http://grammology.com

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