Maybe it isn’t the status of being a grandparent, but being a Great Aunt plays a vital role in the life of a Great Niece or a Great Nephew. This responsibility should not be taken lightly. A great aunt can provide guidance, support, and love to their niece or nephew. They can also serve as a source of wisdom to demonstrate and teach the family’s values.

The soothing sound of a rocking chair's gentle, rhythmic creaking and squeaking. A warm, rich, and slightly sweet scent of tobacco and smoke-filled air from a worn, chewed pipe. The comfort of sitting on my dad’s lap while listening to his stories about his travels through Europe during World War II. These are the magical memories of my childhood.

Unplug their thumbs, train their mind and body and unleash their full potential…

It's no secret that kids today are growing up spending more time than ever before indoors, glued to screens and finger-driven devices. Their finger/eye coordination abilities are off the chart, but what about old-fashioned hand-eye coordination that requires more than a finger and gives them a pause from their fingers?

Let's talk about manners!

With summer finally here, temperatures start to heat up, and we begin wearing shorts and flip-flops again. Additionally, disposable cups, plates, and other easily disposable paraphernalia become the norm. This single action of paper product usage has single-handedly ended manners as we know it!

It's a great idea to teach children manners at a young age! Saying "please," "thank you," and "excuse me" are important social skills that can help them interact politely with others. Encouraging and modeling good behavior is a great way to teach these skills.

Growing up, my father was a disciplinarian. Although he never struck us, he threatened us with his belt or the pida, a Polish paddle defined as a wooden handle with leather straps. Again, he never hit us, but we were not allowed to defy the rules of the house. I grew up in a strict Polish Catholic environment, with thoughts of breaking the rules were not tolerated. But after becoming an adult and having kids of my own, the dynamics changed. No longer was my dad concerned about spilling milk or calling my sister a pig. He was the fun grandfather, with continual pranks and antics with the grandkids. This transformation is what I would like to be when the grandkids arrive.

Welcome to 'Finding Your Groove: The Grandparent Edition.' I don’t know about you, but I always thought that …grandparents are old, gray hair wrapped into a tight bun, wrinkly smiles and when visiting there was always the smell of something yummy wafting from the kitchen.

I never “got the memo” on grandparenting, I don’t have gray hair, never wore it in a bun and as for baking, let along cooking, the only thing wafting from my kitchen is still smell of something recently burnt.

What was your favorite comfort food when you were a child? Mac and Cheese? Sloppy Joe’s? Meatloaf? French Fries? Something else?

For me, it was Polish sausage and sauerkraut. My Busha (a diminutive form of Polish grandmother, but we called her Bushi) was the best cook in the universe. Walking into her house was like walking into heaven. The smell of sauerkraut simmering on the stove permeated the house all the time.