Funtastical Blog
"Are you ready to unlock the magic of grandparenting?"
A Remote Grandma's Guide to a Spook-tacular Long-Distance Halloween
Being a grandma is already magical, but being a remote grandma during Halloween? That requires a bit of witchcraft—and a lot of creativity. Gone are the days of sneaking extra candy into plastic pumpkins and chasing little goblins around the house. But just because we're far apart doesn't mean we can't raise a little Halloween havoc together. It's time to conjure up some spooky-fun ways to make your grandkids cackle with delight from across the miles!
The Labor of Love: How Grandparents Shape Family Legacies for Generations
In today’s diverse family structures, grandparents are vital as emotional and cultural pillars. They play an active role in caregiving, mentoring, and financial support, nurturing younger members and preserving family identity. Their unwavering presence provides stability amid the complexities of modern parenting and societal change, making their role indispensable to the family's well-being and legacy.
But this isn’t just a modern-day role. My grandparents were deeply involved in raising my sisters and me. Because my mom was working in the family business, she needed childcare, which wasn't available back then. You either were a stay-at-home mom or relied on extended family and sometimes neighbors for help. What we know as childcare didn’t become accessible for decades after my childhood.
Make America Read Again is Not Just for Kids
Have you heard about Usha Vance’s 2025 Reading Challenge, Make America Read Again? It’s aimed at children from Kindergarten through Eighth grade. Read twelve books, send in your list, and you could win a visit to the White House. Sounds great, right? But what about you, parents and grandparents—do you read in front of the kiddos?
When our son was in first grade and struggling with reading, the teacher called me in for a conference. She asked a series of questions to figure out why our son was having difficulty. “Do you read to him?” I responded, “Since before birth.” He’s the youngest, and I read to all the kids day and night. He, in particular, would wake up at 5:00 am to have some reading time with me, his mom, and his favorite book, "Ten in the Bed."
From Stockroom to Schoolroom: Why Labor Day Was My Favorite Holiday
While most kids were squeezing in one last pool day or perfecting their end-of-summer tan, I was clocking out of my shift at the family store. That’s right — while my friends spent their summer breaks lifeguarding or flipping burgers, I was mastering the art of organizing shelves and unpacking endless deliveries. Forget campfires and s’mores; I had the distinct aroma of cardboard boxes and dust to keep me company.
Back to School with Faith (and Maybe a Little Fear): A Catholic School Tradition
It's that time of year again — the leaves are changing, the backpacks are packed, and Catholic school kids everywhere are dusting off their plaid skirts and clip-on ties. While the rest of the world is bracing for the chaos of school supply aisles, Catholic school families have their own unique back-to-school checklist:
Labor Day Lessons: Teaching Kids the Value of Hard Work (One Staircase at a Time)
Labor Day: that magical Monday when Americans everywhere fire up the grill, slap on sunscreen, and ceremoniously wave goodbye to summer. For kids, it often means one last hurrah before school kicks in. But what if we made Labor Day more than hot dogs and cannonballs into the pool? What if it became a launchpad to teach our kids the value of hard work?
Back to School, Back to Books: 13 Must-Reads to Reignite Little Learners
Ah, summer. That magical stretch of time where bedtime becomes a suggestion, popsicles become a food group, and reading... well, let's just say the only thing most kids were reading was the pool rules sign (and even then, only under duress). Now, as the scent of freshly sharpened pencils fills the air, it's time to gently coax our young ones back into the wonderful world of books.
Fear not, parents and teachers! Rebuilding that reading habit doesn't mean cracking open an encyclopedia. The right stories can reignite curiosity, tickle funny bones, and, most importantly, make kids fall in love with learning all over again. Here's a handpicked list of 13 delightful pre-K through 2nd-grade reads that will help ease the transition and spark a joy for reading.
Lessons from Al’s Farm
Corn is knee-high by the Fourth of July and ready to be harvested in September in the Midwest. Our family lived in the suburbs of Chicago, but some relatives had a farm in Northern Illinois. Subsistence farmers. This type of farming primarily grows food to feed themselves and their families. They use very low-tech methods. Hey, we're talking about the 1960s: no Wi-Fi, no cell phones, no computers, and no iPods.
Intentional Grandparenting Series
These insightful books are designed to strengthen the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren, offering a fresh and humorous perspective on grandparenting. With a mix of wit and wisdom, CJ Corki addresses the common challenges faced by grandparents today, providing practical advice and engaging activities that make grandparenting both fun and meaningful.
