As a Christian parent for 45 years and a grandparent for more than two decades, I know the all-too-common hurts, anxieties, and disappointments that these roles can bring. Will the prodigal return? Will the damaged relationships be repaired? Will they join me in heaven someday? Does my life have a...
On Valentine’s Day, we send cards to each of our 14 grandchildren (as well as to their married parents and our single adult children). It’s a special opportunity to express our love for each of them. But we hope our model of 50 years of marriage will impact their views and beliefs about love and...
“Why do leaves change color in the fall?” A simple question from a young grandchild motivated this grandma to do some research. The not-so-simple scientific explanation that I shared: Plants appear green because of a substance called chlorophyll which is in abundance in the spring and summer. The...
Are you on fire to be a successful Christian grandparent? This is a question that pops up regularly in my head. For that matter, what exactly is a successful Christian grandparent anyway? And what if I’m tired and facing burn-out in pursuit of this goal? Many grandparents have extra opportunities...
When you dreamed of becoming a grandparent, I doubt that sharing your grandchild with another set of grandparents was on your radar. We’re not even sure exactly what terms to use to describe that “other” set of grandparents. Are they in-laws or outlaws? Are they auxiliary, extra, or essential?...
In 2011 we found that we were about to be grandparents of a little boy who had a cleft lip and palate. It was a huge learning curve for his parents and for us as we learned how to feed him and navigate the multiple surgeries coming his way. His grandfather wrote in a letter about sweet baby...
In 1981, social worker Dorothy Miller originated the term “sandwich generation” to describe those who are working full time while simultaneously caring for their children and aging parents. This describes over half of people in their 40’s and 50’s in the United States. But a new term has emerged...
Five of our nine adult children have children of their own, ranging in age from 1-21. We have now spent decades in prayer for these grandchildren, beginning even before they were born. This is both a privilege and a challenge. It is a privilege to bring them before the throne of the God of the...
Lifespan developmentalists generally agree that middle adulthood spans the ages of 40-65 years, and late adulthood goes from age 65 until death. Since the average age of a first time grandparent in the U.S. is 47, this means many of us will be grandparents for half of our adult lives, both as...
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