The Grand Life: Wholehearted Grandparenting

Emily and Mike come back online to share an enchanting discovery, a custom book service that illustrates art history with your grandchildren, literally, and the Renaissance dad who created it. Explore Tom Ryan's service, Selfarama, at this link.  (Note--the episode reflects our observations and opinions about the topic service. We paid full price for the service, we received no discount or other compensation, and the subject had no influence over the content of this episode. We just think it's cool!) Music in this episode is from Blue Dot Sessions:"Rue Severine," "Flatlands," "Fissure Forming," "Gaena"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, due to death, illness, or incarceration, your adult child just can't be a parent to your grandchildren. Capable and engaged grandparents can make all the difference, unless someone else blocks that relationship. You can take this to court: many states give explicit rights to grandparents that many of them do not know much about. Family law attorney Yoninah Orenstein talks through a particular case of hers that shines a light on the problem and gives advice on how to solve it. Our guest is from the law firm of Flaster Greenberg. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a quick preview of the episode we're pulling together for later in May. The topic is grandparents' legal right to have access to their grandchildren. In most states, these rights do exist--you just need to understand them, if in a difficult circumstance you would need to exercise them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After months of one-a-week and years of podcasting, Emily and Mike are changing the tempo and starting a new endeavor, Speak-E-Z--a grandparent-confidentila online meeting series. Come join us at our Patreon page for Speak-E-Z .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We in the Club Sandwich Generation are caring for our aging parents as well as our kids and grandkids. Many of those aging parents want to "age in place," in homes that aren't properly set up for older folks to live alone. Architect Paul Spite has written about how to navigate these changes, like modifying a home to help our elders age in place, and to soften the pride and resistance that can get in the way. RESOURCES Paul's book is Renovations to Enable Aging in Place. He's also created a YouTube video summarizing his book.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine having a book club with your grands--doesn't that sound like fun? Emily and Mike visit with a mother-and-son team who literally co-wrote the book on how to do this, from inside a book club that met for 11 years (until their kids left for college). RESOURCES  Michelle and Ronan McCann are two of the authors of "Reading Together," available here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When infant grands come to visit, do they need baby gear you no longer have? BabyQuip to the rescue. Mike and Emily talk with Kelly Inglett, a provider for BabyQuip, a service that can rent you exactly what you need, where and when you need it. Their web presence is here, and there are links there to their mobile app for iOS and Android.  BabyQuip is offering our listeners a promo code, TGL20, to save $20 off any reservation of $100 or more. (Not an affiliate link, does not benefit us--only you!)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Diana Raab's passion is to help others discover the transformative power of memoir writing. She's written 13 books herself along her own journey of healing from her difficult past. We talk with Diana about her life and her latest book. Learn more at her web site.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gloria Horsley and Frank Powers are a pair! Therapists, co-authors, each previously married, and now dating, they're generous advocates of finding love later in life. Their helpful new book "Open to Love: The Secrets of Senior Dating" launches on Valentine's Day. We had a fun conversation with these lively, open-hearted grandparents. Their book is available here.  Find out more about them at datingdoctors.org and their mission to support surviving spouses at opentohope.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Grunenwald has created a merit badge programs for grandparents to pursue with their grands. Suited for both one-on-one and group activities, it's a resource to help us put more focus and intention into our time with our grands. See examples, and explore his book series, at https://www.grandparentmeritbadges.com .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filmmaker Melissa Davey is back with the story of her next film, "Climbing Into Life," about the oldest woman to scale El Capitan in Montana. Both the producer and her subject bring loads of inspiration for all of us. Learn more about Melissa's first doc, "Beyond Sixty," here, as well the trailer for her new film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've watched much HSN or QVC, you may have seen or even bought clothing with the Diane Gilman label, the "Jean Queen" of tele-retail. Her new book is "Too Young to Be Old," and you'll likely agree with her after you hear our conversation with her. Diane's book is for sale at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637554532, and her web site and story are at thedianegilman.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, the emotional center of the Morgans' holiday gatherings shifted from the grandparent's home to that of their adult children. Emotions are more mixed than giblet gravy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Combining your pets and your grands can be chaotic, even scary--for both the animals and the small humans. Because it can go very badly, we must know our animals well and plan ahead for the good of all. Ellie Laks runs several animal rescue farms and is an expert in animal communication; her advice is practical, tender, and fascinating. Learn more about Ellie's farms and her talents at www.gentlebarn.org and ellielaks.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike welcome back Dr. Emily Williams, a counselor and therapist, for some advice on how to navigate the choppy waters of holidays and family relations. Her website is https://www.silvermaplepsychology.com.  For more on the topic of touchy conversations with the parents of your grandchildren, check out our episode titled "The Hard Things."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our 150th episode is a celebration, a look back at the top topics we've covered in the first 149. We recorded this one with a live audience in Williamsburg, Virginia. We even hired a stand-up comedian to warm up the audience--and he's 9!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike share ideas from fans of the podcast on giving gifts for grandchildren at the holidays. We also talk with a charter sailing captain about the idea of giving your grands experiences, especially ones that include you. Our guest is Captain Robert of 757 Sailing Charters on the Virginia coast. For more on gifts for grands, check out these two previous episodes of our podcast:--"Enough is as Good as a Feast," about the cost tradeoffs between buying and shipping--"Overbuying," exploring why we're tempted to spend too muchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily's November article about podcast listening, published in the online magazine Next Avenue (nextavenue.org), invites readers to sample The Grand Life. This episode is a quick orientation for new visitors. Emily's article: https://www.nextavenue.org/what-podcast-listening-brings-to-the-table/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ABC Television's reality show "The Golden Bachelor" seeks to enrich the lives of older singles, but seems to do so at the expense of their grandchildren. Emily and Mike have some thoughts about this and what it might say to the rest of us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kathy Buckworth is a radio and podcast host (and grandmother) near Toronto, Ontario. Kathy patiently answers our burning questions about Canadians, their politeness, and their maple syrup. Episode Notes Cathy Buckworth's radio program airs weekly on Zoomer Radio in Canada, with enough AM power to reach into the Central Northeastern US. The rest of us can hear her on the Go To Grandma podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might be time for you to recheck your estate planning, because things change with time. Our chat with an elder law specialist might help you get motivated. You don't have to enjoy the process, but you really should do it. Notes: The National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, naela.org, can help you find an attorney in your state who can help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How present are you when you grandparent? Samantha Reynolds is a Certified Conscious Parenting coach. Her book, "Help Me Be Me," is available at her web site, http://www.samanthareynolds.ca . Notes Samantha credits learnings from Dr. Shefali, whose details and books are at https://www.drshefali.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike discuss what happens when grandparents become too busy or too burdened and approach burnout. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grandparents can provide great support to adult children going through a divorce. Emily and Mike talk with Leah, a single mom who has been through it herself. Leah is now a coach, driven by a passion to help women and their families through divorce. Learn more about her work at https://www.leahgiaquintacoaching.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Capturing your family's stories, pictures, and media is a ton of work! Fortunately there are professionals who can help. Andrew Hall from No Story Lost talks about the work behind capturing and preserving a family's story. His company is at https://nostorylost.com. If you'd like to dig deeper on this, give a listen to these earlier episodes:"Capture Your History" with Dr. Elizabeth Keating (S6E39)"The Power of Story, Part 1" with memoirist Felicia Chang"The Power of Story, Part 2" with a grandfather focused on sharing stories with grandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike touch base with listeners on why ratings and reviews matter, the worrisome career choice of Social Media Influencer (depicted on this week's episode art), and how exactly to leave a podcast review on an iPhone. Please share your comments by email at grandlifeconnection@gmail.com or by voice at (317) 572-7876.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of us will be fortunate enough to see the results of intentional grandparenting in the lives of our older grands. Meet Zach Samalonis, a twentysomething who cared for and grew from his grandparents' struggles and influences. Stan Samalonis and Zach, age 8, grace the cover art for this episode.Zach's personal story is highlighted on his portfolio web site, https://www.zachsamdesigns.com/. We met Zach through this article about his aviation camp experiences written by his mom for the website NextAvenue.To hear more from us on this theme, check out our earlier episode, "Do Grandparents Matter?"  (It's one of Mike's all-time favorites.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and anthropologist Helen Ellis returns for an update with Emily and Mike about her books and research on being distance grandparent and a distance grandchild. Helen's books are available here on her website, distancefamilies.com. For more on this subject, check out earlier episodes: Global Grandparenting, Part 1  Global Grandparenting, Part 2  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grandparents who live with the emotional consequences of trauma find it tough sometimes to be their best selves to their grands and adult children. John Henry Parker specializes in coming alongside veterans and helping them through personal transformation, using tools and ideas that apply to non-veterans as well. RESOURCES Email our guest at johnhenry@harvestingwisdom.com Take the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire at truesage.com, and the Communications Survey at https://harvestingwisdom.com/communication-survey/. John Henry's books areand "Be The Dawn In the Darkness" at https://www.amazon.com/Be-Dawn-Darkness-Relentless-Becoming/dp/1544536488 and "Transitioning Veterans," https://transitioningveteransbook.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many grandparents help fund needs (and wants) of their adult children and grands. This is dangerous territory,  given the shortfall in retirement savings for many grandparents. Emily and Mike hear the bottom line from a financial educator, Cyrus Bamji, with the Alliance for Lifetime Income, which educates savers on a range of approaches to funding in retirement.  Other episodes on this topic include "Overbuying" and "Grandmothers at Work."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to upgrade the way you listen, so you can learn more from your grands in your conversations with them. "Transformational Listening" is the technique explained by consultant and coach Christine Miles. Her book is called "What is It Costing You Not To Listen?," and her company is called Equipt. Visit www.equipt-people.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As some of our grands head to school for the very first time, we could imagine what it's like for them; or we could talk to an experienced preschool teacher, Chrissy Cox, which we did last year. Here's a new look at this great conversation (with some new ideas before and after) about school days for our youngest grands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lifetime of stuff can be a challenge to pass on, throw out, or leave behind as a burden to your family. Emily and Mike welcome Stephanie Denson, an organization consultant who helps people work through those lifetime accumulations. Learn more about her work at https://www.spiritandspacellc.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about family, with family, can get tricky. Triangulation happens when three are in the conversation--and while it's not always a bad thing, it certainly can be. Psychologist Dr. Emily Williams helps us navigate this choppy sea. Find out more about our guest and her practice here. More Than Grand (affiliate link) can help you build great, enduring bonds with your grands and their parents (who are essential to your success!) Use the coupon code GRANDLIFE to save 10% off your order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social anthropologist Dr. Lynsey Farrell talks with Emily and Mike about how grandmothers can be a powerful force for multigenerational change, based on work she did in Africa and resources from her Grandmother Collective.  RESOURCES Lynsey's site is https://www.grandmothercollective.org/ Mentioned: Marc Freedman, "How To Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations." See https://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Forever-Connecting-Generations/dp/1541767810 Freedman's company is https://cogenerate.org/.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike recap their extended grand-sitting gig with a charming, challenging toddler. Spoiler: everyone survived.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Capture your family history from those who lived it, before it's too late. Emily interviews Dr. Elizabeth Keating, author of The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Stories and Bridge Generations. Her book is available here and at other bookstores and online sources.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of our grands love stories, don't they? Listening Pond is a podcast full of stories "for kids and their adults," says Asa Gauen, co-creator of this series of fanciful stories in a podcast you can share with your grands.  "Dragons Are Always Lucky" and its cover art appear courtesy of Listening Pond. Find it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and on other podcatchers.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

"It takes a village" to raise kids, and we are becoming that village for our toddler grandson while his parents take a long vacation. And how do we feel about this awesome responsibility? Mixed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike dig into two risks from the cyberworld that impact grandparents. One is how you use it to share about your grands...and the other is how it uses you, when the bad guys get help from Artificial Intelligence. These were mentioned in the episode, if you'd like to learn more: July 1, 2019 “Facebook Fail” The Grand Life Podcast S1E7 Kate Lindsay, “The First Social-Media Babies Are Growing Up—And They're Horrified” The Atlantic web, 5/23/23 (may require subscription) Sharyn Alfonsi, “How con artists use AI, Apps, social engineering to target parents, grandparents for theft.” 60 Minutes 5/21/2023 Christina Ianzito, “Chatbots and Voice-Cloning Fuel Rise in AI-Powered Scams,” AARP.Com, April 17, 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being a mindful grandparent is the expertise of author and educator Shirley Showalter, who returns with big ideas from her latest book, The Mindful Grandparent, written with Marilyn McEntire and available online here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike have made it out and back on a test visit up the East Coast to grandkids and an aging parent, relying on mass transit on wheels, not wings. It was a revelation, an education, and a confirmation. Hear what they learned in this "field report" on their big test run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From their new home served by an Amtrak line, Mike and Emily plan a train trip to visit grands--which reminds them of an episode about toy trains as a way to bond with grandchildren. Their guest, Mr. Muffin, has a YouTube channel, "Mr. Muffin's Trains," where you can see his amazing collection of O-gauge model trains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike take their own guests' advice in this rewind to a 2020 episode about what they just did: relocate to be near grands! The advice they gave us was good then. Now it's way more real.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moving Day has left its mark, so Emily and Mike provide a report on their relocation. Also we revisit part of an episode about being in "the room where it happens:" the Delivery Room when a grandchild is born. Inside the room our outside it, this also leaves a mark. SHOW NOTES Here are details on our guests in this episode: Midwife Mairi Breen Rothman is part of a group practice,  http://mamasmidwives.com. They have a Facebook page, MAMASMidwives. If you'd like to see Mairi in action, Voice of America produced a 28-minute documentary film about her and the topic of home birth at https://www.voanews.com/a/4671481.html.  The Grand Life spoke with Dr. Becky Haak just after she returned from medical missionary work in Mozambique. See https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/emergency-field-hospital-opens-expanding-medical-care-in-mozambique/ .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If perhaps you forgot about our episode on remembering and forgetting, we'll help you! While our podcast studio is still out of commission, here's a "rewind" to this Season 4 interview with a neurologist and a psychologist who give us some hope about our aging brains. Dr. Francine Toder's book is "The Vintage Years: Finding Your Inner Artist (Writer, Musician, Visual Artist) After Sixty." She also has a website, doctoder.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While our studio is out of commission for a few weeks, we're inviting listeners of The Grand Life to revisit an episode about the talk all families need to have if guns are kept where kids might discover them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many grandparents hope their children and grands will adopt their faith tradition and carry it generationally forward. Author Richard Olson offers trends and suggestions in his book The Grandparent Vocation: Wisdom, Legacies, and Spiritual Growth, and in this episode, Emily and Mike invite his wisdom and advice for you. His book is available at the link above from the publisher, and online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Mike reconnect with Dr. Kerry Byrne, founder of The Long-Distance Grandparent, a resource with research and ideas to keep relationships with grands vibrant and healthy, including a special message they need to hear from you. Kerry has a title for you: Grand Encouragement Officer. (That's a hint at the message.) We have a special request: call us at ‪(317) 572-7876 and talk to us about about sharing your faith with your grands. Have you? How did you go about it? In hindsight, good idea or bad? It's for our March 24 episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonding with your grandchildren over music is such a joy. Music as one part of a multisensory experience is the subject of this conversation with composer/pianist Murray Hidary, who advocates for the connectedness that music can produce. Murray's performance experiences are explained (and his concert schedule) is at www.mindtravel.com, and his free coloring/drawing meditation booklet is here. His schedule of upcoming virtual live experiences is here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grandpa Grace is smelling the roses in this week's photo, provided by Aaron Larsen, the guest on this episode. His grandparents were his housemates for a time, and they are what's behind his Grandparents Academy. Aaron's portfolio of resources is below. Website: https://www.grandparentsacademy.comCourse Catalog: https://www.grandparentsacademy.com/catalogFree Weekly Activity Download: https://training.grandparentsacademy.com/resourceFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandparentsacademyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandparentsacademyGrandparents Week: www.grandparentsweek.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.