A Parent's and Grandparent's Greatest Gift

We were watching a new show the other day. It was called Huckabee, and of course the show featured the former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee. During the show, Mike Huckabee took questions from the audience. A father-to-be asked for advice on how to be a good parent. After a bit of stumbling, Mike Huckabee hit it on the head. The greatest gift you can give, he said, is your time. Never forget that.



We agree.

High School Graduation

We attended our youngest son's graduation from high school on Saturday. There's something great about the look of a high school graduate's face. It's full of hope and expectation, full of the future. (And, we're sure, glee over being through with high school.)



The graduation was on Saturday. Today, Sunday, we carted him off to college for 4 days of orientation. It's a time of transition for him. It makes us think, that's what life is all about. Transitions. If there's one thing that's a constant in this world, it's change. And in today's modern world, the transitions seem to come fast and furious. So, when you're thinking about something weighty to teach your kids, tell them about transitions, about changing surroundings, taking new paths. If your kids take transitions in stride, they'll have an advantage in life and will be better able to reach their full potentials.

Long Distance Grandparenting

We got interviewed by a reporter for Birmingham Parent, an award winning magazine. The reporter (Lori) had a great question. How do grandparents keep the bond with their grandchildren strong when they live a long distance away? There are plenty of ways, of course, and we'll list a good one here. Read the same book as one of your grandchildren and talk about it over the phone. Or emails. Whatever. Lori mentioned that she had done the same with her child, reading the Harry Potter books. For us, it's Eragon. There's nothing like a good book to bring people together. What a great bridge over any generational gap! And as a bonus, the kids improve their reading skills. So, see what your grandchild (or child) is reading, and read along with him or her. You'll be amazed at the connection you can make.

It might be good to gather them all on a chair or couch and have them pick out a book (or books) that everyone can enjoy. (see picture below) Okay, the younger ones might have to wait a few years, but that's ok. They'll catch up.

Memorial Day

If you're a parent or grandparent, we think it's important to hand down your family traditions to the youngsters. Holidays are like national traditions. This Memorial Day, as your family gathers for a picnic, ball game, the Indy 500, or your own special family gathering, take a few minutes to talk about the meaning of Memorial Day to the children. It always surprises us when we talk to children and ask them what they know about holidays. Often, the answer is very little. Let's not raise a generation of wannabes on Jay Leno's Jaywalkers segments. Let's teach our children national traditions.

Books and Boats

We'll be traveling to Michigan for a booksigning event on Saturday, June 7 (1-2::30 pm). Come by and say hello if you're in the area. The event is at The Book Blues Bookstore. Great name for a bookstore!

If you check out the bookstore's website, you'll see that they support a very worthy cause, Books for Soldiers, which we wholeheartedly endorse. After sending some of our own books, we received a very nice email from Afghanistan thanking us for helping fill out their base library.



Need more tips for summer travel with the kids and grandkids? Check out our article at Houseboat magazine.

Enjoy!

A Tip for Scholarships

Ah, the scholarship season is in full gear. Actually, we've been at it for months now (and months and months ...). Having 5 kids at institutions of higher learning is certainly a challenge. But as we tell our children, there's scholarship money out there, you just have to apply for it.

And so, the paperwork begins and then never stops. Time is precious, but the time spent on applying for scholarships can be well worth it. It's just that ..., well, it's boring and repetitive and there are just so many other better things to do.

We discovered that there's a great way to save time with the multitudes of applications. Start a file, either on paper or in a computer file, and have those stock answers handy. Keep a copy of your tax return in it, as well as any other financial information they ask for. Keep copies of any scholarships applied for. Many of the questions are repetitive. You'll say, "Hey, didn't I just answer that last month?" Just look in your folder, and BINGO, there's your answer.

We hope this tip helps!

A Tip for Summer Travel with the Grandkids

Bring a backpack for your grandkid. If your grandchild is bringing one along, great, otherwise you can give one as a gift. Depending on the trip, add appropriate items to the backpack: disposable camera, ID information, books or comic books, depending on age and interest.

Hand-wipes are always a good idea. Include a change of clothes, too, so your trip isn’t interrupted by lost luggage or a nasty spill.

Remember, summer vacations are special for children, and your grandchildren are no different.