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!

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.

Ah, weddings — they’re emotional, joyful, and, let’s be honest, a tad stressful! But as the mother of the groom, not that much planning needs to be done. Although the thoughtful bride has included me in various events such as “She said yes to the Dress,” there isn’t much involvement, especially since I live six hours away. However, there’s generally one thing that should be exciting, not overwhelming, and something I have a definite say in: finding the perfect dress.

Whether you're walking down the aisle behind your child, greeting guests, or dancing the night away, your outfit should make you feel confident, beautiful, and completely at ease. But with so many styles, traditions, and trends out there, where do you even begin?

Don’t worry — we’ve got your back. Let’s break it down!

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."

My earliest memory of travel is of a late-night freight train clicky-clackin' by my bedroom window as dusk began settling on the landscape. I was 5, and when I would first start to feel the thunder of the wheels on the tracks as they gently rocked the street, I would jump from my bed to the window to watch and dream of all the places they must go. My imagination was on overload.

I don't know about you, but I envisioned travel as an exotic and seamless experience in which everything went according to plan. After all, the train rocketed by my window like clockwork; the rest of that trip must have been perfect.

Welcome to the wild and wacky world of thumb-sucking—a journey filled with cunning toddlers, baffled parents, and doting grandparents who just want to help without stepping on toes (or thumbs). If you've ever seen a child suck their thumb, you know this is no small habit. It's an art, a science, and sometimes, an act of rebellion.

I was never a thumb sucker, so I can't tell this tale from the memories of my youth, so it was a quandary when I was thinking about what makes thumb-sucking such a big deal?

Growing up, my grandparents’ annual pilgrimage to Palm Springs for a week at the spa baffled me. Sixty years later, with aching bones and arthritis, I finally understand the healing power of these retreats. Now, as I prepare for a journey to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, I realize it’s about more than soothing aches – it’s about embracing life’s journey and sharing wisdom with the next generation.

Imagine yourself in the future—10, 20, perhaps even 40 years from now. It's your 80th birthday party. Are you sitting in a wheelchair, unable to move freely? Or do you find yourself dancing joyfully with your grandchildren? Which vision resonates more with you? The reality is, the path you take today shapes the life you lead tomorrow. Your choices—the levels of activity you embrace, your nutritional habits, and the amount of rest you invest in yourself—are the keys to unlocking your future.