Funtastical Blog
"Are you ready to unlock the magic of grandparenting?"
Grandparenting Isn’t Just Frosting On A Cupcake: Why Grandkids Need Their Grandparents
When I reflect on my parents as grandmother and grandfather, not mom and dad, they were the fun ones with the grandkids. They were not how I remember my mom and dad growing up. They were the disciplinarians trying to keep their five daughters in line. Where are you going? Who will you be with? Be home no later than midnight since "nothing good ever happens after midnight." But with the grandkids, they didn't have that responsibility. They could teach them to fish, tell stories about magical fairies, bury "dinosaur" eggs for the kids to find. They had endless treats like ice cream, cookies, and cupcakes with extra frosting. But grandparenting, I have learned, is much more than frosting on cupcakes.
A Beginners Guide to Grandparenting: Summer Fun
Just a brief time ago, the temperature in my neighborhood was chilly, snowy, and a little bit frosty. My gloves were never too far from the front door, and those 3-inch heels were safely put away in the closet until the snow was just a fleeting memory. The weather is teasing us that winter will soon be gone as the sun starts to warm the earth. The days are starting to get longer, and our minds travel to the sweet days of summer.
The Ultimate Confessions of a Marshmallow Maniac
The year 1984. The memory vivid, engaging, and life-altering. No, it’s not Orwell’s book, 1984, that set the world on fire by projecting the future of oppression and a ban on individuality with all human actions being watched over by “big brother.” Yes, 1984 was the year I got married. Vivid, yes, Memorable, yes. Life-altering, yes, BUT alas, not as much as something even more exhilarating. The striking, engaging, and life-altering event introduced something so paranormal, so huge, so influenced by Twilight Zone, not Twilight. It can’t be, it can’t be…yes, it is, it’s The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
A Time for Heaven Story
My dad’s not here, but he’s watching from heaven. – Bubba Watson
How to Explain to Kids Where People Go when They Die.
There is never a suitable time to die…for anyone. As I write this blog, I think of my dad, who left us 14 years ago, my grandma, who left us two months before the birth of my daughter and her first great-grandchild, and these are just 2 of hundreds that have passed away that were connected to me in some way.
Getting Your Hand Stuck In the Cookie Jar and Other Financial Lessons
Fiscal responsibility is something that needs to be taught at an early age. Parents should intentionally educate their children to be money-aware. It will not be a lesson in their school and is definitely not an example set by our government. Parents need to demonstrate that money does not grow on trees by talking about earning money through allowances and eventually jobs. I started working in our family business as soon as I could walk. I would get ten cents for restocking the candy display. Eventually, I worked up to organizing and ordering the merchandise. However, the big honor was creating fantastic Easter baskets considering the cost of what was inside for reasonable pricing. Business families, unfortunately, get into the rut of children thinking that life is like a cookie jar they can reach into any time they need money. It starts with a cookie but evolves into high expectations of having everything paid for them.
How to Keep Kids Safe From Germs and Eating Dirt?
When our kids were little, my dad would always say to his grandkids when they were bleeding, "just throw some dirt on it, and you will be fine." No, it was not a literal statement. It did get them to laugh and to realize there was no need for tears. No longer is the three-second rule acceptable when food gets dropped on the floor. They are required to wear masks because of COVID19 as young as two years old. Hand sanitizer is used every time kids touch something while scrubbing their hands raw several times a day has become a ritual. What is the balance of cleanliness and dirty?
A Promise Is A Promise
“A promise is a promise.” A phrase that emphasizes that a promise should be kept. As a young girl, my mom taught me that keeping your promises is the backbone of any healthy relationship. When it came to arriving on time, my mom drilled into me that you should never be late at an early age. My mom was never late and usually arrived early to any event, appointment, or meeting.
How to Get Your Kids to Organize a Room
I want, I want, I want…
I don't know about you, but I probably said those words more times than I care to remember as a kid. Do you have that same recollection? Do you hear it from your kids? Grandkids? When I saw an advertisement for the cool roller skates in the Sears catalog, I want it quickly came out of my mouth. If I saw something my friend had that wasn't in our repertoire of toys, I want it was uttered by one of my sisters or myself. Five sisters, all chanting at one time or another, I want it. I want it. I want it. Maybe this is how Marie Kondo got started.
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.
