If your grandchildren are anything like mine, they have lots of stuff. Too much stuff. So much stuff—toys and games and other goodies—that I’m reluctant to give them any more stuff for the holidays. Of course, being a grandma, there’s no way in the world I’d let a holiday go by without giving them something. [...]

My three daughters, now adults, recently reconnected with two of their male cousins who, because of family circumstances, had been removed from our extended family for nearly 20 years. The love and instant rapport between the five young adults when they met again underscored the special — and important — bond between cousins. I’ve had [...]

My son-in-law and I don’t have a whole lot in common. He likes going to sporting events; I like going to movies. He likes living in the desert; I like living in the mountains. He works with numbers, I work with words. He likes to hike and shoot baskets and run on the treadmill for [...]

I don’t have vivid memories of moments or activities with my grandmothers. I don’t recall specific foods they made, hobbies they enjoyed or shared with me, lessons they taught me. My own children, unfortunately, don’t have those kinds of memories with their grandmothers, either. I often read of such things, hear recollections of such memories. [...]

I have a dirty little secret. Actually, I think all grandmothers have a dirty little secret. Hidden away – and sometimes not so hidden away – is the jealousy of the other woman – jealousy of our competition, our rival, our nemesis. Yes, I’m talking about the other grandma. It doesn’t have to be that [...]

Q: Mother’s Day is coming and my daughter and son-in-law live in town. My son-in-law’s mother also lives close by. I want to spend Mother’s Day with my grandkids and my daughter, but I know my son-in-law’s mother would like to spend time with them too. Our kids love each other, but the extended families [...]

Q: My 16-year-old granddaughter wears her shorts entirely too short. I will not let her wear them at my house at all.  Her mother seems to think that this is ok. I think it lacks taste and class. It sends the wrong message about the type of girl she is. Am I overreacting to ban [...]