If It Weren’t For Grandmothers, We Might Still Be Apes.
Grandmothers to Grandmothers
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on January 11, 2016
Headlines about the AIDS crisis in Africa have diminished, but orphans who have lost their parents to the disease continue to need care. This is where grandmothers have been essential. Some 15 million African children live in households headed by their grandmothers. They bridge what has been called a missing generation.…Sibling Rivalry Forever!
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on December 14, 2015
As parents, we try so hard not to play favorites. Or, if we do, we do our best to hide our little indiscretions. But even when we are being fair, sometimes our kids will still complain that the other person is getting the piece of cake that has the most…When Grandma Moves to Be Close By
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on November 9, 2015
The New York Times recently noticed that, when old folks move to be near their children, that does not necessarily mean frail elders who are themselves in need of care. For the young-old, the lure of being near their kids and grandkids is often coupled with the draw of a fun…Love Your Grandkids: The Payoff
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on September 28, 2015
You've got to hand it to academics; they have a way of expressing the most basic concept in the most baroque way. Take a recent study out of Brigham Young University. It looks at what happens when grandparents who don't live with their grandkids are close to them, either emotionally…Grandma’s Kitchen: The Restaurant Version
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on August 30, 2015
Jody Scaravella grew up in a close-knit Brooklyn-Italian family. When several relatives died within a short period, he felt unmoored. So he moved to Staten Island. Soon, a storefront near the ferry spoke to him. "Restaurant," it whispered; "Italian family restaurant." He had no experience in the restaurant business, so…Stranger than Fiction: Showers for new grandmothers
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on August 3, 2015
This is America, baby! We have parties. We give gifts. We may worry about who is giving what, and who might be offended (diverting attention from the mother-to-be is the most-often heard complaint) but we press on, giving gag presents, outfitting baby's home-away-from-home, kidding the soon-to-be-grandma about her abilities and her…Remedial Grandma Class
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on June 25, 2015
Listen up all you newbie grandmothers: The class will be meeting, and you will be expected to attend. Syllabus: etiquette during labor and delivery (and where to park.) How to clean the cord. (soap and water only; alcohol is out.) How to work the %&*#! car seat. How to do…Call In The National Guard
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on June 8, 2015
Sure, we know how much good we do for our grandchildren. But it’s nice to have a study from Brigham Young University that lays it all out. For fifth graders who had grandparents living near by, those who were close to them had improved social skills, like kindness and compassion,…Kayaking Granny Doesn’t Let Spine Surgery Stop Her Mission
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on May 11, 2015
When Dr. Deb Walters saw women and children making their living picking through garbage dumps in Guatemala, she decided to raise money to help them improve their lives. She was inspired by the mothers of the community, and by the model school started by an American. So the 63-year-old grandmother…China cracks down on dancing grannies
Posted by Miriam Weinstein on April 13, 2015
Who would have thought that a leisure activity featuring mature women could be so dangerous? All those choreographed moves! All that determination to get some exercise, stay fit, and make new friends! And it is, on the face of it, such a simple occupation; the only things that are needed are…