Funtastical Blog
"Are you ready to unlock the magic of grandparenting?"
SCRABBLE®: TOAD vs. TODE Imagination At Its Finest
According to Wikipedia, "Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by placing tiles, each bearing a single letter, onto a game board divided into a 15×15 grid of squares. The tiles must form words that, in crossword fashion, read left to right in rows or downward in columns, and be included in a standard dictionary." Research shows that playing games can improve children's abilities to organize, plan and get along with others. In addition, play helps with language, math, and social skills and even helps children cope with stress.
Why Kids Need Secret Spaces to Thrive
With this New Year, I began reflecting on the past. Long ago, when life was simple. No "peaceful protests" or looting happened back in 1968, right? Mine were fond memories of childhood with my own unique hideaway space, the crawl space under the stairs. It was safe from the outside world and insulated me from the happenings of that era. Unaware was I about the Civil Rights movement or the Chicago Riots after Martin Luther King was assassinated. Little did I know about the Vietnam War except that my godfather fought in it. It started my thinking of why special places are essential.
New Year's Eve Service with a smile
Memories are an interesting thing!
We all have memories, good and bad. Some of these memories are vague, and others are with us as if it were yesterday when the event occurred. One thing for certain. We all have vivid memories of our childhood Christmas'. These memories run deep. When asked, or when the first Christmas tree is put up or the holiday songs begins, our memories of the traditions, the stories, the road trips, and the gifts come rushing back to us as if it was just yesterday. But I must ask.
Traditions… Traditions
Pierogi, Kluski, Golabki, Chrusciki, Makowiec are delicious words my sisters and I learned at birth from the Polish family we grew up with back in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Polish food is served at our weekly family get-togethers throughout the year, but they have a special meaning for the five of us sisters on Christmas Eve every year.
Traditions: The Importance of Past, Present, and Future Traditions to Keep Family Bonds
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year to everyone. Whatever holiday you are celebrating, be mindful of not allowing commercialization to get in the way of the traditions. In 2021, everyone panicked about not getting gifts in time due to supply chain issues. However, the gifts are not what is important. It is getting together with family and friends with traditions old and new. When you light a menorah, the seven candles, or the advent wreath, you are strengthening family bonds. Traditions improve family stability, increase the feeling of belonging, and bring overall better well-being and health.
Ho!Ho!Ho! Intentional Grandparenting
As we countdown until Christmas, we are beginning to see festive decorations lining the streets of our towns and neighborhoods. Stores are filled with healthy and smiling shoppers, and there are shoppers loaded down with bags filled with goodies anywhere you look. Of course, the other holiday experience is the parking lot crunch when finding a parking spot during the holiday season is not for the faint of heart. These exterior experiences are only a piece of the magic and memories of Christmas.
Price of Success: A Grandparents Perspective on Achievements
Parents inherently want their children to succeed. They stress the importance of “excellence” for their child. As a baby, they may start teaching their child baby sign language to boaster their cognitive ability. They can be eager to sign up their three-year-old up for ballet or, in this case, for wrestling. Yes, as a parent, I am guilty of arranging for art classes, gymnastics, swimming, and more, all before the age of four. As parents, we fear not having that jump-start will forever put them behind in academia, the arts, or sports. However, as a prospective grandparent, I have a different viewpoint.
Top 5 Reasons being a Grandparent is Cool
If you didn't raise your hand, I would share that once you get the "grandparent" moniker, you will be relegated to the "old" category. Yes, I know that it may be far from the truth, but as they say, perception is reality. A check of Merriam-Webster Dictionary tells us that "The definition of old is advanced in age or having been around for a while.”
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.
