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Scholars Choice 529: Choose a 529 plan with proven results ®

THE MAGAZINE FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

MARCH/APRIL 2015 n

Investment excellence 19 quarters in a row for the one-year period

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Ranked the #1 advisor-sold 529 plan by Savingforcollege.com for both the three-year and five-year rolling periods ending June 30, 2014

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One of the largest advisor-sold plans nationwide, backed by low fees and multiple investment options

For a proven plan committed to excellence, visit scholars-choice.com.

When

“The Parents” Divorce: Dos & Don’ts

4 Fitness Gadgets You’ll Want!

Married & Lonely?

Tips To Fan The Flame

An investor should consider the Program’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. The Program Disclosure Statement at scholars-choice.com, which contains more information, should be read carefully before investing. If an investor and/or an investor’s beneficiary are not Colorado taxpayers, they should consider before investing whether their home states offer 529 plans that provide state tax and other benefits only available to state taxpayers investing in such plans.

All Savingforcollege.com rankings are as of June 30, 2014 and are based on the universe of 30 advisor-sold plans for Class A share performance (including maximum sales charges). The portfolios within the plans are compared and ranked based on published investment returns. The plan’s composite ranking is determined by the average of its percentile ranking. The ranking is based on short and long-term performance (i.e., rolling 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods). The program ranked 4, 1, 1 and 8 for the quarterly rolling 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods, respectively. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The performance and rankings discussed are inherently limited and are not indicative of longer-term performance.

Current performance may be lower or higher than performance results used for these rankings, resulting in different rankings that may be lower than those shown. Market volatility, interest rate changes and economic events, among other factors, can affect an investment’s short-term returns.

Ranking Methodology Savingforcollege.com derives the rankings using each plan’s relevant portfolio performance in seven unique asset allocation categories: 100% Equity, 80% Equity, 60% Equity, 40% Equity, 20% Equity, 100% Fixed and 100% Short Term. The plan’s composite ranking is determined by the average of its percentile ranking in these categories. Within each category, portfolios are compared and ranked based on published investment returns. Separate rankings are produced for 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods. In addition, two versions of rankings for each performance period are produced: one based on performance without sales charges and the other based on performance with maximum sales charges. Please visit Savingforcollege. com for more information about the ranking.

Additional unit classes may exist for each plan ranked. Please refer to each plan’s program disclosure statement for more information regarding its performance, fees and expenses. For Scholars Choice’s program disclosure statement, please visit scholars-choice.com.

Investments in the Scholars Choice College Savings Program are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency and are not deposits or other obligations of any depository institution. Investments are not guaranteed by the State of Colorado, CollegeInvest, QS Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation, LLC, Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, or Legg Mason, Inc. or its affiliates and are subject to investment risks, including loss of principal amount invested.

Scholars Choice is a registered service mark of CollegeInvest. CollegeInvest and the CollegeInvest logo are registered trademarks. Administered and issued by CollegeInvest, State of Colorado. QS Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation, LLC is the Investment Manager and Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC is the primary distributor of interests in the Program; together they serve as Manager of the Program. QS Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation and Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC are Legg Mason, Inc. affiliates.

QS Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation (QS LMGAA) is part of the combined QS Investors investment platform, which is comprised of QS Investors, LLC, QS Batterymarch Financial Management, Inc. and QS LMGAA. ©2014 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC. Member FINRA, SIPC. Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC is a subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc. scholars-choice.com SCHX016827 411587 9/14 FN1413390

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE

Backyard Fun With The G-Kids

Marie Osmond

A Miraculous Grandmom!

GRAND Families & Kinship Care Rising

Sharpen Your Pencil: Pointers for Picking a 529 Plan

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s today’s grandparents become more investment savvy and 529 plans become more established, we are seeing an increased reliance on them. Yet, given the vast array of options, choosing the best plan for your family is far from academic. To help you do your homework, here are some key questions sto keep in mind.

In-state or out of state? It Depends.

To help families save for college, section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code lets states operate tax-favored college savings plans. Contributions to the plan grow federal tax deferred, and withdrawals are federal tax free if used for qualified education expenses.

States also offer tax benefits, which vary. Sounds straightforward, right? It would be, except you’re not restricted to investing in your home state’s plan. Before being swayed

by in-state tax incentives, consider whether such breaks make up for high fees or sub-par investment options. If your home state plan doesn’t measure up, you might be better off elsewhere.

Performance matters While plan performance shouldn’t be your sole criteria, it does have a meaningful impact on your college savings nest egg—especially as gains and losses compound over time. To see who stacks up, independent informational websites like Savingforcollege.com rank 529 plan performance quarterly, but be sure to compare records over the long haul. Choose a plan that is consistently named a topperformer over multiple time periods to help maximize your savings.

plans are no different. That’s why you should carefully consider investment options and fees. While costs among 529 plans continue to decrease, they remain one of the few factors an investor can control. Evaluate the types of underlying investments available, too, and whether they suit your appetite for risk. Everyone saves a little differently, so be sure to choose a plan with sound investment options that work for your family.

Given the number of 529 plans out there, the decision may feel overwhelming. Yet, the only real mistake is not choosing a 529 at all. That would mean missing out on tax advantages, as well as estate planning benefits and professional management, too.

An experienced financial advisor can help you open an account today.

Read the Fine Print PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

They say the devil is in the details and 529

To learn more, please visit scholars-choice.com

All investments involve risk, including the loss of principal amount invested.

Grand Magazine and Savingforcollege.com are not affiliated with Legg Mason, Inc. 2014 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC. Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC is a subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc. 3/14 FN1412443

©

Special advertising section by Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC

grand view in Justspring when the world is mudluscious the little lame balloonman whistles

far

and wee

and eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies and it’s spring when the world is puddle-wonderful the queer old balloonman whistles far and wee and bettyandisbel come dancing from hop-scotch and jump-rope and it’s spring and the goat-footed balloonMan far and wee

whistles

ee cummings formatted, as per the poet’s intention 3 GRAND

MARCH APRIL 2015 2015

Spring is in the air Kinship care is on the rise I spend a good deal of my time doing research and helping organizations understand the impact grandparents have on families, the economy and the world. We suspected that kinship care is on the rise since the collapse of the economy; Child Welfare League reports this is true and provides resources for grandparents raising grandkids.

Like the rest of the country, I am so over winter! It’s just one of the reasons I am so excited about our March/April Issue of GRAND. Spring is my favorite season. The poem by ee cummings has always conjured up the wakening smell of earth, the rain that brings tiny shoots to life, and children tossed back outside to just be kids. Pure joy!

Why we love Marie Our cover girl Marie Osmond epitomizes this joy in the way she lives her life, and faith in the way she has overcome hardship. She is a multi-talented super star, an author, a daughter, a mother, and a new grandmother. You will learn what’s behind her sunny outlook and how it leads her to serve children through the Children’s Miracle Hospital Network.

It’s Prevent Child Abuse Month What can WE do to make a child’s life better?

As grandparents, we can give the gift of time and attention to our grandchildren—to do simple things, like finding fun in our own backyard, as our friends at Generations United suggest.

Tips on travel, health, finances, and a philosopher mouse too!

From a philosopher mouse named Maurice, to important tips on travel, health and finances, GRAND is brimming with fresh ideas just in time for Spring.

Hoping yours is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful, and seen through the eyes of a child!

Lori

Lori Bitter Publisher

Click here to listen

Gabriel and Henry above watching the Puppy Bowl

RADIO

rubric contents

14 20

8 5 GRAND CENTRAL

Bob Dylan, Richard Branson, Saucy GP Honey, and more

8 GRANDPARENT HEALTH

Sitting is the New Smoking Get busy standing more and sitting less

13 GRAND TRAVEL

Traveling solo with autistic grandkids Ways to prep that make it great

18 ROAD SCHOLAR

On the road with grandkids

Marie and Donny Osmond

ON THE COVER

Marie Osmond

Perennial star of stage, screen, and Las Vegas, Glam-Ma Marie is about to tour the world

19 GRAND PAWS

Matty’s Wish, one dog’s long journey home How one soldier found his missing MWD

20 TOYS N’ TECH

Latest & greatest health & fitness gadgets You and your grandkids can work out together

4 GRAND

CLICK HERE FOR THE GRAND MAGAZINE MASTHEAD MARCH APRIL 2015 2015

21 GRANDCHILD HEALTH

Popular choking games can go very wrong The alarming fad that is killing teens

23 ASK DR. GRAMMA KAREN

Keeping the peace when adult children divorce Steering clear of emotional minefields

24 GRAND FAMILIES

Kinship care is on the rise

No worries, CWLA has lots of ways to help you cope

25 GRAND FAMILLIES

It’s child abuse prevention month The important role grandparents play

27 LOVE AND MARRIAGE Oops, the fizz has gone out!

Restoring intimacy in marriage

31 28 GRANDFAMILIES

Cruising in your own backyard Low-cost adventures they’ll love

29 GRAND FINANCES

Is your grandchild financially literate?

Steps to get them on a wealth track

31 GRANDFATHER KNOWS BEST Words of wisdom from a philosopher mouse

Maurice’s Travels will delight young & old

33 MEMORIES AND MOMENTS Grandma and the Mints One girl’s special bond with her grieving grandma

35 GRAND FINALE

Thanks for reading!

Try this healthier Mac n’ Cheese

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GRAND Central

Have you heard? Dylan’s channeling Sinatra and wine boosts your memory!

Richard Branson welcomes twin grandkids

Richard Branson welcomed twin grandkids recently, sharing this photo of the two precious bundles, Etta and Artie. “I’ve been trying to stop myself from posting too many photos of our gorgeous new grandchildren, but like any proud granddad I can’t resist! Branson said. We agree and send hearty congrats to the entire Branson family.

Bob Dylan on the cover of . . . AARP?

Of course he is! But who would’ve guessed he’d be channeling Frank Sinatra and Irving Berlin on his new cd, Shadows in the Night? Dylan admits to loving American standards, from the 1920s to the 1960s.

He also reveals that his wise grandmother once told him that ‘happiness is not the road to anything; it is the road.’ “My grandmother was a wonderful lady,” Dylan said. Click here to read more, and hear a few tunes.

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A honey of a grandson

After talking with a bee farmer about Colony Collapse Disorder, twelve-year-old Henry Miller began a bee farm of his own, and soon created Henry’s Humdingers Honey, a line of four spicy/sweet honey products. Grumpy Grandpa offers a flavor explosion of red pepper & garlic; Naughty Nana is a spicy ginger mixture. Henry’s stories about his grandparents are adorable, and he offers a free recipe book that features Nana’s Bit of Bourbon, One Grumpy Fish Taco, Heaven and Hellfire Cheesecake, and lots more. A portion of all sales goes to The Foundation For the Preservation of Honey Bees. Click here to order.

Wine is good for memory

A study in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias found that light and moderate alcohol consumption seemed to improve ability to remember things from events, and increased volume in the hippocampus, important for episodic and long-term memory. Researchers postulated that alcohol could trigger the release of some brain chemicals important to thinking and processing; but heavy (5+ drinks at once) and long-term drinking has negative effects on your brain.

GRAND Central

More good news to brighten your day . . .

G-kids keep you sharp

We don’t need scientists to tell us G-moms love caretaking G-kids, but it’s good to know that it also keeps us mentally sharp. A study published in Menopause, found that G-moms caretakers of G-kids lowered their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders. Too much time, however, (5+ days a week, as a caretaker) appeared to make grandma’s mental state a little shaky.

Overall, 1-day-a-week G-mom caretakers scored highest on cognitive tests, while 5-day-a-week G-mom caretakers scored significantly lower.

It’s never too late to rock

Learning to play and playing a musical instrument helps keep your brain young. Website Apollo-M is offering unlimited access to thousands of lessons, eBooks, videos, podcasts, web TV shows, digital sheet music—and more, for only $4.95 a month.

The service covers all types of music and musical instruments and even offers one-on-one lessons.

According to Gary Turner, Co-Founder and CEO of Learntoplaymusic.com, “It’s like NetFlix for the world of musicians.” And it’s good for your brain.

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Shut texting down

No one should text while driving. Period.

TextBuster can be installed (secretly, or not) to activate when your G-kid enters the car. It uses Bluetooth to send a blocking signal that prevents said fabulous G-kid from accessing all text, email, or Internet functions while driving. It won’t block phone calls, but it will track where the car goes. Click here for more info.

Soothing soles, getting past foot pain with Foot Solutions

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f you’re like me, you love spending time with your family. My granddaughter Lily just loves the playground and now, after years of lower back, hip and severe heel pain, I can be right there with her. A few weeks ago, I went to see my doctor, the pain in my right hip and lower back had become unbearable and my feet ached all the time. At 62 I had all but given up until she suggested I go to Foot Solutions. My pain, she thought was due to a combination of foot imbalance conditions.

It turns out Foot Solutions was located in the shopping center right around the corner from my home. I’ve driven by several times and have been meaning to stop by. What I didn’t know was that Foot Solutions isn’t just a shoe store. I met Tina, a Certified Pedorthist and her team. Tina wanted to evaluate my feet and after the examination, she felt certain that my pain was, indeed, foot related. I had a severe bunion, hammertoes and most importantly a bad case of plantar fasciitis, a painful condition that was causing my heel pain. Tina suggested we run a scan of my feet that would actually map the surface and show us where the problem areas were.

It was amazing to see how the different colors indicated where my feet needed more support. I also learned that I had been wearing the wrong shoes.

For years I’ve worn a size six, but my feet have actually changed over the years and what I’ve needed was a size seven. To help with the hammertoe and

bunion Tina felt a slightly wider shoe would do the trick.

Tina had noticed my interest in a pair of brown sandals I saw when I came into the store and suggested I try those on as well as a few pair of casual shoes and even a pair of boots. I could tell the difference instantly, these shoes felt great and looked terrific.

Most importantly I needed a custom support insert, a special insole made just for me that would work in combination with my new shoes to give my feet the extra support they needed.

Now, after six weeks of wearing my new shoes and custom inserts, I’m almost pain free. In June, I’m going on a beach trip with the whole family and I couldn’t be more excited. If you have pain like I did, go to FootSolutions.com and find your nearest store or just call them at 1-888-FIT-FOOT. You’ll be glad you did, I sure am.

-Florence Mattox, Paris, Texas

grandparent health

Sitting is the new smoking

BY PAULA MUNIER

I

f you’re sitting down when you read this, stand up.

Your body—and your loved ones—will thank you for it.

Sitting disease—a term coined to describe our increasingly sedentary lifestyle—is associated with thirty-four chronic diseases and conditions, according to Dr. James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative, and the inventor of the treadmill desk.

Spend more time on your feet—and more time off your butt—and you can add two years or more to your life. What’s more, you can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer, and improve your brain function as well.

Nineteen hours of inactivity is too much Most of us sit up to twelve hours a day—and that doesn’t count the hours we spend flat on our backs in bed. Add in seven hours of sleep and that’s nineteen hours a day of inactivity—rivaling that of the average sloth. Sloths are the most sedentary of all mammals, so slow moving that algae grows on them. Seriously.

(At the rate we are going as a species, we may be covered in green goo, too. If we survive that long.)

If you’re thinking, oh, that doesn’t apply to me, because I exercise regularly, think again. Even those of us who exercise regularly may not be able to offset the damage done while we sit around watching TV or surfing the Internet. For every hour we sit, our fitness level drops.

Worse, recent studies show that people who sit a lot have a 24 percent higher risk of colon cancer, a 32 percent higher risk of endometrial cancer, and a 21 percent higher risk of lung cancer—no matter how much they exercised.

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Get off your seat and embrace NEAT All this sitting is killing us—literally. In fact, doctors now call sitting the new smoking, in terms of the damage done to our health.

New research indicates that this has to do with the different kinds of calories and the way our bodies burn them. Our bodies use energy in three basic ways: 1) doing what cells do (muscle cells contract

and flex, liver cells make enzymes, etc.); 2) breaking down food for energy; and 3) moving. It’s the moving energy that’s of interest here, and that moving energy comes in two types, the type that makes us sweat, and the type known as non-exercise activity thermogenesis, or NEAT. NEAT energy is what we use when we tap our foot or walk up the stairs or iron a shirt.

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grandparent health Continued from previous page

When we sit, we don’t need much NEAT energy—and our bodies know it. So the signals that trigger movement check out—and the signals that build fat get busy.

An object at rest . . .

When we eat, our blood sugar soars, pealing an hour after the meal. If we chill out after the meal, all that glucose goes right to fat, and eventually to obesity and diabetes. If we go for a stroll instead, we burn some of that glucose off, cutting our risk of obesity and diabetes.

It benefits your brain, too Burning more NEAT energy is better for your brain as well. Dr. Levine ran a NEAT experiment with students in Rochester, Minnesota, swapping out their regular desks for standing desks. This doubled the kids’ activity level—and within two months, they were more engaged, less stressed, better behaved at school and at home, and, most impressive, they’d boosted their standardized test scores by 20 percent.

Stand up: three hours a day Three hours a day is all it takes to burn up more NEAT energy. In fact, swap sitting for standing three hours a day five days a week for a year and you’ve burned around 30,000 calories—8 pounds of fat!—the equivalent of running ten marathons.

The moral of this story: Whatever you do, do not sit still. Get up and move. Note: I wrote this story standing up.

Paula Munier is a writer, literary agent, and yoga teacher. Her books include Fixing Freddie, 5-Minute Mindfulness, and Plot Perfect. She lives for visits with her three kids and two grandkids, not necessarily in that order.

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Get up off that duff Here are some steps you can take to get up off your duff and build the stand-up habit: Walk after you eat: Sitting after meals raises glucose levels. Good news: The time you spend on your feet cleaning up and loading the dishwasher is great for your body– and you won’t have dirty dishes in your sink.

Invest in a standing desk: I had a bike desk, but I’m a writer and type only as fast as I can think, so I’d catch myself slowing down and stopping pedaling altogether whenever I paused typing to think. Solution: a standing desk, which I found on Amazon for $50, and love! Now I can stand, fidget, do yoga stretches, even dance when the right song comes along on my iPod. Stand on the train, the subway, the bus: Everywhere you have to wait—the airport, the

doctor’s office, the bus stop—skip the seat and stand up instead.

Stand while you talk on the phone: Better yet, pace. I have a blue tooth gadget my high-tech pal John got me, which allows me to answer my cell phone simply by speaking into its microphone.

I can have conversations while I’m dusting or folding laundry or loading the dishwasher. (My house is a lot neater lately.)

Walk around the room during commercials—or the whole

show: You don’t have to give up TV, just give up sitting in favor of calisthenics, walking on a treadmill, pedaling a bike, stretching into some yoga postures.

At the very least, move during commercials.

Get up every hour for at least ten minutes: Go get a drink of water or walk over to your co-worker’s cubicle for a chat or take the stairs to that meeting two flights up.

Learning to Read is Child’s Play

BY MARY ELLEN MAUNZ

Grandparents, did you know?

90% of brain development happens by age five.

Research shows that exposure to early reading is even more important to a child’s success in school than family income or education level. In most children there is special interest in words, sounds and letters from age 2 1/2 to 4 1/2. During this time it is easy and enjoyable for a child to build literacy skills. Their little minds are like sponges–they absorb everything. And they love it. We like to say that “learning to read is child’s play” because when presented with the right materials at the right time they enjoy a language activity as much as their favorite game or toy.

In our own research, we were astounded to learn that children make up their minds about whether they will succeed in school or not by the middle of first grade. And that decision is based largely on whether they can read or not.

Just like you, we want to help give your grandchild the best chance to become all that he or she is meant to be. And, we believe it all starts with reading. We have spent 40 years developing and refining our early reading program to make it easy, fun and engaging for grandparents and parents.

YOU PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THEIR YOUNG LIVES! • To help them build their foundational skills in early reading • To help build their self-esteem by mastering language • To give your grandchild a gift that lasts a lifetime EDUCATION ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE. BUT YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. The American educational failures of earlier years have come back to haunt us. In 2014 the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which tests tens of thousands of America’s school children, announced their results for 2013. 60% of graduating seniors could not read for comprehension; about 75% of them could not successfully do higher math.

“We find that a substantial share of the US population lacks the basic skills needed for a wide range of middle- to high-wage jobs. ” - Functional Literacy and Labor Market Outcomes

by R. Lerman and S. Schmidt.

FREE eBook!

Don’t wait, give your grandchild an edge in the early years.

Learn about the Royal Road to Reading program.

Take this quick quiz and get your free 80-page ebook.

Mary Ellen Maunz, M. Ed, Founder, Program Director and Early Reading Specialist.

Mary Ellen has 40 years of experience in Montessori, teaching at the 2½ to 6 yearold and the 6 to 12 year-old levels.

How to Avoid Running Out of Money in Retirement

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ompared to the length of retirement, 15 minutes is no time at all.

But that’s all you need to learn the basics of developing a plan to make your savings last as long as you need them.

Still, many investors don’t take this time— putting their retirement in jeopardy.

Investors’ biggest errors often occur long before any buying or selling takes place. They tend to have poorly defined objectives, no real sense of their time horizon (how long they need the money to last) and don’t quite understand that any investment has risks and returns to consider.

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Current Age 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

Life Expectancy 81 81 81 82 82 82 82 82 82 83

Current Age 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Life Expectancy 83 83 83 83 84 84 84 84 85 85

Current Age 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

Life Expectancy 85 86 86 86 87 87 88 88 88 89

Current Age 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

Life Expectancy 89 90 90 91 92 92 93 93 94 95

*Source: 2007 US TotalPopulation Life Table (revised as of 06/28/2010). National Vital Statistics Reports, Volume 58, Number 21. Life expectancy rounded to nearest year

Continued from previous page

To start, ask yourself how long you’ll need your retirement savings.

Most investors need their savings to last as long as they do—sometimes longer if they’d like their portfolio to support a younger spouse, children or charity after they’re gone. So exactly how long that could be for you isn’t black and white.

Average life expectancies are published every year, but they can only tell you so much. After all, an average is the middle, and you probably aren’t “average.”

To get a better idea, consider your heredity— your family’s history of health and longevity. Be sure to consider advances in health care and technology. Merely because your father died

at 70 doesn’t mean you’ll do the same. Most people outlive their ancestors, hence rising average life expectancies. Planning early for a longer life is smart.

Our 15-Minute Retirement Plan can help get you get started on a successful path. *Source: Global Financial Data, Inc., as of 01/18/2013.

Based on US BLS Consumer Price Index from

You could also be underestimating the amount of cash flow you’ll need after retirement.

Maintaining your lifestyle becomes much more costly if your expenses are heavily tilted to categories of goods or services with fast-rising prices—like health care. Overall inflation has averaged about 3% annually—a retirement plan that doesn’t account for inflation has a significant hole.*

1925-2012.

If you have a $500,000 portfolio, download the guide by Forbes columnist Ken Fisher’s firm. Even if you have something else in place, this must-read guide includes research and analysis you can use right now. Don’t miss it!

grand travel

Traveling solo with an autistic grandchild

BY DEANNA PICON

F

When flying, book a non-stop flight, preferably first thing in the morning. Layovers and flight delays can cause unnecessary anxiety and stress. If it’s your first time traveling by air, be sure to book a tester flight of 1-3 hours to see how your grandchild adapts. Make sure to bring snacks and a favorite toy or book for entertainment.

To make flying easier, call the airline company to let them know you’re traveling with a child with special needs.

The airline can provide a wheelchair for your grandchild, help you navigate airport security, allow your family to preboard the plane, and provide you with preferential seating.

It’s best to choose a hotel near the places you’ll be visiting. Rooms that include a microwave, refrigerator or kitchenette are ideal for children who don’t do well eating in public places or who require a special diet.

amily trips can be a great way to bond with your loved ones, especially with your special needs grandchild. With proper planning, realistic expectations, and a positive attitude, it can be a rewarding experience for you and your grandchild alike. All you have to do is take things one step at a time.

First, cover the basics Most likely, your grandchild is used to a structured life, so the change implicit to travel creates its own challenges.

That being said, the best way to help your grandchild embrace this change is to focus on their interests and personality.

For example, if your grandchild doesn’t like being in large crowds, with lots of people and noise, then a big theme park like Disneyworld might not be best. Some children with autism have sensory issues and might not be able to tolerate the loud noises of crowds and amusement rides. They might have meltdowns if they are over stimulated.

Wherever you choose, make your grandchild feel more comfortable by establishing

Deanna Picon founded Your Autism Coach, LLC to provide guidance, support and seminars for parents. She is a parent of a non-verbal, young man with autism. She wrote The Autism Parents’ Guide to Reclaiming Your Life.

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a daily routine that is close to the one they have at home. Compile a list of their routine and activities and be sure to give your grandchild plenty of “time-outs” in between to help his or her transition go more smoothly.

Second, get ready to go There are pro’s and con’s to every means of travel and lodging.

Driving will allow you to set your own pace and help your grandchild feel comfortable traveling with people they know rather than strangers. For greater ease on trips, be sure to use (or apply for) a handicap parking tag.

Third, prepare yourself One or two weeks before the trip, read travel guides to your grandchild or look together at the websites of places you’re visiting. Show your grandchild where you’ll be staying and discuss trip activities.

There’s one element that is considerably more difficult to anticipate. You may feel sad or even jealous of others during your trip. Watching families with typically developing children may make you wish that you and your grandchild could participate in some activities or events. Remember, these kinds of emotions are perfectly normal. They don’t make you a bad person or grandparent. You’re simply human.

Loving your grandchild unconditionally and doing your best for them makes you an excellent grandparent, whether or not your grandchild has autism.

cover story

The whirlwind known as Marie Osmond Singer, actress, spokesperson, entrepreneur, philanthropist, wife, mother, and grandmother extraordinaire

BY LORI BITTER

T

he first thing you notice when talking with Marie Osmond is her hearty, authentic, and frequent laugh, which mirrors her philosophy: “If you are going to laugh about it later, you might as well laugh about it now.” That thread of optimism clearly weaves through every aspect of this multi-talented star’s professional and personal life—an especially happy life, now that she has a grandson, and another grandchild on the way.

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cover story “It is the most incredible experience!” Marie said, laughing. “It is a wonderful extension of your child.

When you’re a parent you have to be a disciplinarian; as a Grandma all I have to do is love him.”

“My husband and I love being grandparents,” she continued. “I’m reminded of being so loved by my grandparents. I wish my younger kids had known my grandparents. My mom and dad loved my children so much. Grandparents give perspective to children that they can’t get anywhere else. They have experience and such a library of wisdom.”

How it all began The only daughter of nine children in the famous, singing Osmond Family, Marie made her debut at age three on The Andy Williams Show. At age twelve, she recorded “Paper Roses,” and became the youngest female artist to have a debut reach #1 on the charts, and be nominated for a Grammy.

In 1976, she joined brother Donny to become the youngest host of a national TV variety show, The Donny & Marie Show.

“I had wonderful parents,” Marie explained, “They didn’t make my choices for me. They helped me realize the importance of choice and the consequences. Sure there were times it was lonely, but how do you feel sorry for yourself? I’ve had an incredible life with wonderful people.”

Since her debut as a toddler, Marie’s life has played out in the public. She married her college boyfriend in 1982 and divorced three years later, when their son was still a toddler. She married her second husband in 1986 and had two more biological children and adopted five. That marriage, which Marie describes as “a bad marriage,” ended in 2007 after twenty-one years.

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CMHN Video

JOHN & MARIE TODAY

MARIE AND JOHN SCHNEIDER EARLY ON

Her devotion to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital As one of the founders of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital (CMNH) charity, along with actor John Schneider, Marie has long had a passion for philanthropy. She remains a fervent, involved supporter, helping the organization become the largest and best rated children’s charity in the country, raising more than $5 billion for 170 children’s hospitals across North America.

“My two oldest brothers are deaf, so our mother started the Osmond Foundation to help the hearing impaired. We aligned the Osmond Foundation with

CMNH to broaden the mission,” said Marie of the inception of the organization. “People don’t realize that their local children’s hospitals are charities that need our support. They rely on donations to buy equipment, provide care to children in need, and for basic expenses. They are often last on the list to receive funds. CMN Hospitals serve 10 million kids every single year. These kids deserve the best care available.”

Watch the CMHN video (in photo above) and click here to get involved, and donate.

cover story She believes in optimism and service Marie credits her mother, Olive, with teaching her strength. “My mother was the most positive woman.

She had great faith in God. Her family was all schoolteachers. She would say, ‘Marie, let’s just get simple: Faith is nothing more than a positive attitude. You must believe that good will come.’”

Marie uses this philosophy today. “The greatest way to get me out of my own funk is to turn around and serve other people. I promise you, there is always someone struggling more than you are—and that lifts you up. It has a profound, positive effect in your life.”

To serve other people, Marie has devoted thirty years to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, helping them to raise some $5 billion (see sidebar).

Her little wedding miracle

Marie’s mom Olive was so happy when Marie and Stephen were set to marry a second time, she produced a little wedding miracle. “I was having a dress made for the wedding, and the lady making it had a little breakdown,” Marie explained. “The dress was awful . . . That night, as I was leaving for the Flamingo, I walked around my car to leave and there was a huge box in front of the car. I opened it, and it was my dress from my first wedding!”

“I had not seen that dress since my first wedding.

I’m an organized person—I know where things are in my house. I had no idea where this was stored.

I have no explanation, except my mom. She loved Stephen and she made it happen. It’s my Marie Osmond miracle!” she said, laughing. “And that’s how I ended up getting remarried in the same dress. It looked fine but if I had lifted my arms . . . oh my!”

She’s gone through some very tough times In her book Behind the Smile: My Journey Out of Postpartum Depression, Marie described motherhood as a calling. “I have eight kids [and] used to joke with my Mom, who had nine, that I’m a slacker!

As the mother of adopted kids, I do feel it [being a mother] is a calling. It is something I wanted to do. I knew they were mine. We lovingly took on the responsibility.” But being a grandmother is different.

“It’s a gift you receive. It’s more a privilege than a calling. Though I do know grandparents who are called to take on much more, depending on [what’s happening in] their kids lives.”

Sadly, Marie lost her son Michael in 2010 as a result of depression, followed by a suicide. In an interview with Oprah following Michael’s death, Marie 16 GRAND

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said her son told her the day before his death that he was lonely and isolated—feelings she recalled from her own post-partum depression. “It was the first time I heard him start to cry and say he was alone,” she said. “That he had no friends. That he felt despair.”

Losing a child was devastating. “I’ve gone some tough times. But you know, everyone has. I see where God has strengthened me throughout my life. He does it a little bit at a time. I believe he lifts you and sees if you can carry it. And then he lets you be. Then, he’ll come back and strengthen you. And he sees how you are doing and helps you come at your problem from another angle. It’s a great eternal principle of growth: You just [have to] trust that he won’t give you anything you can’t handle.”

How she remarried her first husband Today Marie’s nest is nearly empty with only one daughter, who is twelve, at home, and a four-year remarriage to her first husband, Stephen Craig, about which she is as surprised as anyone. “My second marriage had ended. Donny and I were working five nights a week at the Flamingo. I wanted to focus on my kids and my work [so] I was moving to Las Vegas. I called my oldest son to help me move some things into my house. He asked if it was okay if he brought his dad.

We hadn’t talked in awhile, but the friendship we started in college was still there. Those core things that attracted us to each other had never changed. I think we have both grown up a lot and we appreciate each other more because we have been through some hard times.”

Having a pre-teen at home keeps the star of Vegas’s #1 show (for the 3rd year running), humble. “She asked if she could bring some friends to our show a few weeks ago. They are eleven- and twelve-yearolds [who] know me as her mom [although] their

cover story Click here to listen to Marie’s full interview moms know me as Marie Osmond. When the show was over, one her friends said to me, ‘So you are kind of like Selena Gomez, right?’” Marie paused to laugh.

“I am very humble.”

She’s going on a world tour with Donny Marie shows no signs of slowing down. She recently joined Kathy Lee and Hoda on the Today Show to announce a world tour with Donny. Baby Stephen James, Jr., lives in California, and Marie’s husband Stephen gets her there as often as possible for quality grandmother time. Her grandson, who is just forming words, calls her “Gam Gam.” When asked if she hopes he will join the “family business, Marie laughs, “He’ll be a genius at whatever he decides to do. My children are all very eclectic. I have loved helping them find what they enjoy. My oldest son was on stage with me at four years old for the Sound of Music on Broadway; now he’s a financial analyst who speaks Chinese. Children should have all kinds of experiences and opportunities to help them make their choices in life.”

Lori Bitter, President of The Business of Aging, also serves as publisher of GRAND. Her book, The Grandparent Economy is due in 2015. Her favorite title is “Gigi” for grandsons Gabriel (3) and Henry (5 months).

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Marie’s a busy grandmom

Yes, in edition to everything else, Marie has authored five books!

• Behind the Smile: My Journey Out of Postpartum Depression • Might as Well Laugh About It Now • The Key is Love: My Mother’s Wisdom, A Daughter’s Gratitude • Marie Osmond’s Heartfelt Giving: Sew and Quilt for Family and Friends • Marie Osmond’s Guide to beauty, health, and style She’s also recorded over 35 albums earning multiple gold records, starred on Broadway, occasionally appears on The Talk, continues to perform five nights a week at the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel Showroom, and is going on a world tour with Donny in coming months.

Truisms her parents taught her “My parents taught us to have a good name, be honorable. Be loyal, faithful and true. Your handshake should mean something. Have faith in God. Teach that to your children and they can get through anything.”

“My husband and I taught our children to stand on their own two feet and be independent. Be financially capable. Be responsible. Use their education. Be ethical people and serve others.”

“At the end of the day for me, it not about gold records. It’s what kind of mom were you? Or what kind of grandmom? That’s what it’s really about.”

Click here to read more about Marie

MARIE AND GRANDBABY STEPHEN JAMES CRAIG, JR. BORN DECEMBER 18, 2013

See the World and Learn Something New

With the Grandkids

parents to coordinate schedules, some tips they suggest include: • Choose programs that are of interest to both you and the grandkids.

• Include the grandkids’ feedback in the process.

N

ot-for-profit Road Scholar’s mission is to

“Spending time with grandchildren and traveling

inspire adults to learn, discover and travel.

top the list of things people want to do when

• Have the grandkids chronicle their adventure.

Our learning adventures engage expert instructors,

they have a little more free time,” says JoAnn

Retired physician Pat Zelkowitz

provide extraordinary access, and stimulate dis-

Bell, vice president of programs at Road Scholar.

discovered Road Scholar several

course and friendship among people who believe

“The feedback we receive from both grandpar-

years ago. “I had attended a pro-

Road Scholar offers over 350 Intergenerational

learning is the journey of a lifetime.

ents and grandkids is overwhelmingly positive

gram at the Chicago Art Institute, as well as a New

adventures for grandparents and grandchildren.

— it’s such a special opportunity to create or

York Opera program, and both were fantastic,” Pat

Nearly 7,000 people enroll in our Intergenerational

strengthen that bond.”

says. “I told my family about it, and when I learned

programs each year.

And what’s more rewarding than traveling and

about Intergenerational programs, I asked if they

learning something new? Sharing the experience with a grandchild, of course! Road Scholar Inter-

Many grandparents say that beginning the con-

would be open to me taking my oldest grandchild

generational programs are opportunities for grand-

versation at a holiday or family get-together is an

to Paris. Honestly, I don’t think they would have let

children and grandparents to share an adventure

essential first step. In addition to working with the

me take her if it wasn’t with Road Scholar.”

together. Each program is structured to fit with the age range of young learners and offers unique curriculum for adults and children, as well as com-

Most popular programs include:

bined educational experiences.

• Exploring Western Grand Canyon and River Rafting

Spending time with grandchildren and traveling top the list of things people want to do when they have a little more free time.

for Grandparents and Grandchildren • Intergenerational in the City of Light: À la Découverte de Paris • Tropical Paradise: An Outdoor Adventure for Grandparents and Grandkids (Costa Rica)

Visit us online at www.roadscholar.org/grand or call toll-free (877) 426-8056.

Road Scholar educational adventures are created by Elderhostel, the not-for-profit world leader in lifelong learning since 1975.

To learn more, visit www.roadscholar.org/grand.

grand paws

Matty’s Wish: one hero’s long journey home

BY DR. ROBIN GANZERT

I

t was a dream come true for hero dog and hero soldier. Thanks to Don Grommet’s personal mission to right a wrong for his son, a hero in the War on Terror, Military Working Dog (MWD) Matty is now at home in Missouri, with his battle buddy, Specialist Brent Grommet, reunited after more than a year apart. I am also humbled that American Humane Association was able to play a part in making this reunion happen. American Humane Association has helped numerous warrior dog handlers reunite with their battle buddies over the last year, but this reunion was extra special because lots of work and effort went into it. After working with so many veterans to help them reunite with their beloved dogs, you come to understand just how important and meaningful those relationships are to these men and women. It’s about compassion, caring, and healing via the strong bonds formed under dangerous circumstances.

The journey home Don and I were introduced through the VFW, and I offered resources to help find Matty. His son Brent

Dr. Robin Ganzert is the President and CEO of American Humane Association. She hosts a weekly radio show “Be Humane with Dr. Robin Ganzert,” on Pet Life Radio, and authored, Animal Stars: Behind the Scenes with Your Favorite Animal Actors.

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Radio (it was their number one story in all of 2014), the family eventually came forward and made this reunion possible.

I had the honor of joining Brent, Matty, Don, and his wife Debbie in North Carolina right after they were reunited, where a few tears of joy were shared.

BRENT GROMMET AND HIS FAITHFUL MWD MATTY

and Matty went to war together. Then, upon returning to the U.S., after being wounded in an explosion, Brent and Matty were unceremoniously separated.

Brent felt certain he would be able to reclaim Matty because he had submitted adoption papers. However, due to bureaucratic error, and/or negligence, another party adopted Matty. We reached out to the local community where the adoption occurred, and publically announced that we’d offer the family who adopted Matty a generous offer to return him to Brent. We waited weeks and weeks, and no one called. But following national media coverage and being on VFW

It’s about father love, too The reunion of Brent and Matty is more than the story of a young man’s love for a dog. It is also the story of a father’s love for his son.

Without the dedication and perseverance of Brent’s father, Don, none of this would ever have been possible. The family that originally adopted Matty did the right thing by turning him over to the Grommets, which is a value we surely need to instill in our young ones.

Working with Brent and Don to help make their dream a reality has been a true blessing for me and American Humane Association. But, our work is not yet over. Now begins the effort to make sure stories like Brent Grommet’s never happen again. We are working with members of Congress to pass legislation— which we call “Matty’s Wish”—that gives our two- and four-legged veterans the respect they deserve and also honors the relationship our two-legged veterans have with their four-legged brothers-in-arms. These bonds are forged in the fires of war. Both solider and dog deserve to be honored and respected when these warriors return home.

toys n’ tech

Health and Fitness Gadgets For The Whole Family Tech is a great way to spur you—and your grandkids—to be more active

BY DAN NESSEL

The Data Will Get You Moving

T

What would it be like to have a personal trainer strapped to your wrist? Put on the Basis Peak Fitness Tracker and you will soon know. The Basis Peak tracks heart rate, steps, skin temperature and even sleep patterns–all from your wrist. By setting goals and habits, the Basis Peak will take all your fitness data and gently nudge you along to make sure you stay active and healthy.

he winter is coming to an end, the days are getting longer—time to get outside and be active! This month we look at health and fitness trackers that will motivate the whole family to get up and get going.

Need Help Getting Active?

Become a Misfit

The Basis Peak is a very sophisticated fitness tracker but its $199 price tag might put it out of range for many people.

Sorry, but you can’t use price as an excuse for not getting a fitness tracker.

The Misfit Flash comes in at under $50 and provides data on your steps, activity level and sleep patterns.

While you don’t get a heart rate monitor, the Misfit Flash is waterproof so you can wear it swimming and it has a wonderfully easy to use app for iOS and Android devices.

Misfit Flash | $49.99 Full review & demo of Misfit Flash

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Basis Peak | $199.99

Get The Grandkids Excited To Be Active Too!

Wearable fitness trackers are not just for adults.

The LeapBand from LeapFrog is a fun activity tracking watch for kids ages 4-7. The LeapBand allows kids to adopt virtual pets, which they keep healthy by doing different physical activities. You can customize the activities the grandkids need to do and set rewards based on how active they were for the day.

No More Writing Down Blood Pressure Rates

Tracking your blood pressure and sharing the information with your Doctor just got easier.

The Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor connects to your smartphone and allows you to easily capture blood pressure readings and provides instant feedback based on the World Health Organization’s official standards. With a few simple taps, see historical graphs of your blood pressure and instantly share the data with your doctor.

Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor | $129

LeapBand from LeapFrog | $19.99 Full review & demo of LeapBand from LeapFrog

Dan Nessel is Director of Product Reviews at DadDoes. Join Dad Does for real world, brutally honest product reviews, geared toward parents and grandparents.

grandchild health

Choking “games” can prove deadly

BY JANET ROSENZWEIG, PHD

K

ids give us plenty of things to worry about as they mature: Will they pay enough attention in school to get into a good college? Will they choose the right friends? Will they make the right choice when faced with drugs or alcohol? Will they wait until they’re really ready to experience sex? Current attention to an ancient practice has given families something else to understand and warn children against: choking games.

Know the names they use Choking games, medically known as ‘voluntary asphyxia’ goes by many terms among kids.

Black Hole, Black Out, Red Out, Knock Out, Flat lining, Five Minutes in Heaven, Space Monkey, Suffocation Roulette, Gasp, and Tingling are among the names used by kids in different communities . These are terms that parents and grandparents should come to know and recognize as a sign of danger.

Peer pressure and online resources play a role In these games, kids physically limit oxygen to the brain, causing a brief, intense rush as the brain automatically reacts to the perceived threat by releasing specific chemicals that cause the feeling of a temporary high. Methods range 21 GRAND

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from holding their breath while a peer applies pressure to the vagal nerve (similar to applying the Heimlich maneuver) to using ligatures around the neck. Analogous to the manner in which many adolescents are initiated to cigarettes or alcohol, a trusted or high status peer presents the opportunity to participate as fun or cool.

It can become addictive Younger teens, not fully understanding the potential danger, may see it as a way to achieve a legal high and gain acceptance with peers. However, like drugs, the rush or the temporary high can become addictive. And I can never repeat often enough that the part of the brain responsible for high-level decision making is not fully developed until adolescence is over! Peer pressure, poor judgment, and a potential high can make risk taking hard to resist for adolescents in many circumstances.

Choking games can be played alone, or with peers, but it’s believed that they are almost always initiated in groups, although the availability of online information may be changing this. As bad as the group games are, the act becomes more dangerous when a child engages alone. Safety precautions fail and kids suffocate.

Continued on next page

“In these games, kids physically limit oxygen to the brain, causing a brief, intense rush as the brain automatically reacts to the perceived threat by releasing specific chemicals that cause the feeling of a temporary high.”

grandchild health Continued from previous page

It may have an autoerotic component Adolescent males may also come to believe that that they can achieve a heightened sexual climax by depriving their brain of oxygen. Known as ‘autoerotic asphyxiation’ this practice has been documented in medical literature since the 19th century. Sadly, most of the documented cases are based on posthumous investigations, when fail-safe mechanisms do fail and a victim is strangled.

It can become imprinted Here’s an important point for families with young adolescents: Sexual archetypes, or lifelong preferences, are often set in adolescence as the initial objects or behaviors associated with autonomic sexual arousal become imprinted (in a manner of speaking) in a child’s developing brain. Autoerotic asphyxia can become a dangerous lifetime habit that’s difficult to break. Experts estimate that between 250 and 1200 deaths occur per year from autoerotic asphyxiation, but since many cases are mistaken for suicide, the real number is hard to know. Identifying and intervening in early ‘choking games’ can prevent this particular paraphilia from becoming a deadly part of a child’s sexual life.

Be observant and vigilant Of course, it is highly unlikely that any adolescent will discuss any autoerotic activities with parents or grandparents. I strongly believe that parents and care takers have the obligation to check kids’ dresser drawers, book bags, and other hiding places for indications of drugs, alcohol or cigarettes; similarly, plastic bags or items that can be used as a ligature should be added to this list of contraband.

Dr. Rosenzweig is currently Vice President, Research and Programs for Prevent Child Abuse - America, and a Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania. She authored The SexWise Parent.

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Prevent a heartbreaking mistake Thirteen-year-old Alex Rothwell was at home with his mother and his younger brother when he disappeared for a while. His mother later discovered him hanging in the basement, with a dog leash around his neck. The discovery of other ligatures (strings, ropes) around the house later revealed that Alex had been playing the choking game solo—until it killed him.

Click here to read CDC info

Any indication of children using language similar to the many names used for choking games should be a call to action.

Don’t forget their computers Similarly, check a child’s browser history for searches that indicate interest in these issues. If this makes you feel guilty about what you may see as intrusive behavior, remember that kids need to hear from loving adults in their lives that this “game” has potentially deadly consequences and should never be practiced. Ever.

In an article published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, pediatricians are advised that “provided with relevant information, pediatricians can identify the syndrome, demonstrate a willingness to discuss concerns about it, ameliorate distress, and possibly prevent a tragedy.” The same is true for parents and grandparents.

Keep your eyes open Don’t assume that your child understands that choking to the point of fainting is dangerous. Their peers may tell them different, and they may be more eager video & more info here to give it a try than you’d ever imagine.

Choking game basics Also called “five minutes in heaven, blackout, and the knockout challenge,” the choking game is deadly.

Here’s what you need to know: The Game: Asphyxiate your friend (or yourself) just enough to cut off the airway, until he/she feels a quick, euphoric rush.

The Catch: Sometimes the person being choked will pass out or be left with irreversible brain damage—and sometimes will even die.

Warning signs: • Marks and bruising around the neck (maybe they’ve newly become passionate about wearing turtlenecks or scarves) • Bloodshot eyes and other inexplicably chronic eye problems (caused by the force of cutting off oxygen to the brain) • Frequent, severe headaches • Uncharacteristic irritability or hostility • Ropes, scarves, or belts tied to strange places, such as chairs or doorknobs

ask dr. gramma karen

Avoiding emotional minefields when grown children divorce

BY KAREN L. RANCOURT

W

ith a 40 percent divorce rate in this country, many grandparents will witness the divorce of their grown children. Based on my research and conversations with grandparents who have had to deal with their grown children divorcing, I have four suggestions for grandparents.

Find appropriate emotional outlets for whatever you’re feeling Sharing your hurt, anger, disappointment, relief, or whatever you’re feeling with the parents going through the divorce is not appropriate. Rather, share your feelings with your spouse, close friends, a counselor, a support group, other grandparents who have been or are currently in a similar situation, or with the in-law grandparents, if you have a

Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., writes an advice column for parents and grandparents at Mommybites.com and is the author of Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Helping Young Parents and Grandparents Deal with Thorny Issues.

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good relationship with them. The grown children going through the divorce are probably already on emotional overload, and you can help by not heaping your own emotions on top of theirs.

Do not ask for information and updates Assure your grown children that you will not be asking them how are things going, what’s going on, et cetera. It’s not that you don’t care; rather, you want them to share things with you when they choose to do so.

Use these two statements with your children Don’t offer advice, even when pressed.

Rather, say, “What do you see as possible options and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?”

Most important, keep saying, “How can I help?”

Your main job is to stay connected with your grandchildren Help with all transitions by doing what you are asked to do. Do not take any actions or make decisions on behalf of your grandchildren without talking with your grandchildren’s parents first.

In short, put your own feelings and needs on the back burner when communicating with your grown children—and the grandchildren. Do not give your grandchildren’s parents any reasons to find you uncooperative or adversarial.

You want to retain access to your grandchildren under any new circumstances and relationships that emerge after the divorce.

Do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Sometimes this requires refraining from saying what you’re really feeling and thinking.

Remember, your goal is to keep you in your grandchildren’s lives.

grand families

Kinship care is on the rise . . . & CWLA is here to help

CWLA is on your side

BY RACHEL ADAMS

A

ccording to 2013 data provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, almost 3 million children in the United States are not being raised by their biological parents, but by members of their extended family. More than 2 million of these children live with their grandparent or grandparents; others are cared for by older siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, stepparents, members of their tribe, or godparents. This arrangement is known as “kinship care,” or “kincare,” in which a child’s family member takes primary responsibility for that child—through either formal or informal placement—when his or her parent is unable or unwilling to do so.

Grandparents have unique challenges

Since its inception in 1921, the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)—the nation’s oldest child- and family-serving organization—has been working to support, inform, and bolster these specific types of family units. Kinship care arrangements involving grandparents face particular challenges: the grandparent may be retired and living on a fixed income; he or she may have health difficulties or disabilities; other family members may not live close by or be able to assist the 24 GRAND

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published several books for kincare providers and social work staff; and host training sessions across the country at which grandparents, siblings, and other relatives raising children can learn about the supports and services available to them, share their stories, and collaborate with one another.

grandparent; and the emotional, physical, and legal stresses of raising a relative’s child can prove to be overwhelming. Families headed by older adults need special attention because two often-vulnerable populations are directly affected: children and the middle-aged or elderly.

You are not alone

CWLA strives to assist both grandparents themselves and—for families in which children have been placed with relatives through a formal custody agreement— the social workers with whom they interact. To this end, we have developed training materials and curricula;

In 2015, CWLA is channeling its energies toward specific kinship efforts: 1. Along with partners, we are pushing for the designation of a “National Kinship Care Month.”

2. We are redoubling efforts to collaborate with kinship families internationally, and creating new training materials to assist these families.

3. We are reviewing and editing our current publications and curricula, to assure that they have a “trauma-focused” approach.

Children who live with their grandparents or other kin have often struggled through upsetting situations; some have never known their biological parent or parents, while some are in kinship care because their previous living environment was destructive or dangerous.

Grandparent caregivers, too, can find themselves emotionally and financially burdened by becoming responsible for a child at an older age. For these reasons, CWLA will continue to work to provide the information, supports, and services that help keep these families strong.

Rachel Adams is the editor at the Child Welfare League of America, and edits CWLA’s Child Welfare journal, Children’s Voice magazine, and CWLA Press publications.

grand families

It’s Child Abuse Prevention Month What can you do to make a child’s life better?

BY MATT FELDMAN

W

What you can do So as the nation turns its attention in April to child abuse prevention, we encourage all to think about the contribution each of us has to contribute to a happy childhood for our grandchildren, and all grandchildren. There are things we can do:

e all want all children to have great childhoods and, as grandparents, we especially want to—and typically do— play a very important role in their lives. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which spurs conversation about additional roles we can play in ensuring great childhoods for all children.

What the pinwheel represents Prevent Child Abuse America’s pinwheel engenders an emotional attachment to happy childhood memories, and inspires many to create happy childhoods for all children. Since 2008, we have distributed more than 4 million pinwheels nationwide and have seen pinwheel-related activity in every state, even in a few other countries.

“As we continue our work to make an impact on the lives of children and families, we hope that others grow to recognize and celebrate the pinwheel in the same way that we do today,” said Jim Hmurovich, President and & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. “While the pinwheel symbolizes the

Matt Feldman is Senior Director of Marketing at Prevent Child Abuse America, in charge of the national Pinwheels for Prevention® campaign.

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great childhoods we want for all children, it’s important to note that it cannot move by itself. We need people to be the force that moves the pinwheel to bring about real change for abused children in the United States.”

Grandparents play a crucial role We’re happy to report that grandparents are among our most enthusiastic supporters; and, in the U.S., more than two million grandparents are raising grandchildren on a full-time basis, while tens of millions more are caring for their grandchildren on a daily basis.

1. Take the time to do something interactive: reading books, playing or making-up games, taking trips to museums or parks, baking cookies, or making your own cards. What you do is less important than simply making the time to do it—the attention is invaluable to that child’s development.

2. Offer to give tired parents a break by offering to watch a child while Mom and Dad take time for themselves.

3. Volunteer for a local child-serving agency, such as the Prevent Child Abuse America chapter in your state.

“Grandparents are very important people in a child’s life; bringing their personal love to enrich the happy and nurturing environment that every child has a right to experience,” said Hmurovich.

To learn more about what you can do, please click on the logo.

Shape Up Eating Habits for Spring

By Rene Ficek, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating March is National Nutrition Month® and what a better time to think about improving eating habits.

There are many people who desire a healthy diet, but feel like it is too far out of their reach and so they never even try. This attitude may come from the belief that you have to overhaul your entire diet in order to be healthy, but it doesn’t have to be that way. For most of us, small changes can make a big difference.

These small changes are ones anyone can make, and when combined together, the results are a healthy diet.

Keep a fruit bowl handy – Research shows that those who have fruit bowls on display consistently eat more fruit than those who do not.

Sneak in vegetables – Adding extra vegetables, such as grated zucchini, carrots, spinach or kale, and bell peppers, to pasta sauces and soups is one way to develop more flavor and get an extra serving of vegetables.

Convenience is good – If peeling, cutting and chopping aren’t your thing, let someone else do the work. Food companies and grocers offer an everexpanding selection of prepared produce. Sliced veggies and prepared dips like protein-rich hummus are great to have on hand.

Don’t skip dessert – That’s right, a fruit based dessert has the ability to offer a light, refreshing, naturally sweet end to a meal. Desserts like dark chocolate covered strawberries add heart-healthy antioxidants, some fiber, and a host of vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients to your day.

CRANBERRY-NUT BREAKFAST ROLL: A unique breakfast treat, hearty whole grain cranberry breakfast roll served with a delicious fruit spread, accompanied by a side of fresh fruit.

Go meatless on Mondays – The campaign for “Meatless Monday” is gaining popularity and concept is simple: One day a week, cut out the meat. To make your goal even more attainable, use your Meatless Monday as a make-ahead day to prepare extra fruits and vegetables for the week.

Don’t forget to snack – Stock your kitchen, desk, car and purse with nuts, fruits (fresh or dried), vegetables and yogurt. All of these add that extra dose of healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that will keep energy up all day long.

Substitute bottled marinades – Instead of reaching for pre-made marinades that are packed with salt, let meat soak in a mix of olive oil, herbs and citrus juice to get the rich flavor without added sodium.

Balance every meal – Lean, healthy proteins like fish, beans and legumes, and eggs are healthy sources of protein that should be included in the diet at every meal since protein can be very filling, while having minimal impact on blood sugar levels and will help keep you full.

HUMMUS WRAP: Roasted red pepper and garlic hummus and a mixture of sweet bell peppers, shredded carrots and cucumbers are wrapped in a soft whole grain tortilla served with crisp blue corn chips.

COUSIN ROSALEE’S STUFFED PASTA SHELLS: Spinach florentine-filled jumbo shells topped with savory tomato-pesto sauce served with garden-fresh spinach salad and a whole wheat breadstick.

Set an example for your grandkids and start some healthy eating habits today!

If you’re either too busy or not sure where to start, then let Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating help you, call 1-800-442-DIET (3438) or visit seattlesutton.com.

love & marriage

Taking the lonely out of being married

BY SHELA DEAN

I

n a recent study, 62.5% of people who report being lonely are married. Loneliness leads to mental anguish and depression, which, in turn, leads to withdrawal and an even greater sense of loneliness and despair. People who feel lonely in their relationship also feel rejected and, as a result, are often both overly sensitive and defensive, which leads to behavior that pushes the other spouse even further away. Loneliness is a downhill spiral that adversely affects health, both mental and physical. Loneliness creeps into a marriage and couples gradually disconnect emotionally when, for example: • They develop independent routines, e.g., one is a night owl, the other isn’t. • Interesting conversation is replaced with transactional snippets, e.g., “Your mother called.â€? • Marriage is given a backseat to parenting or careers.

Be proactive The good news is that you slipped into a lonely rut together and together you can climb out.

Shela Dean is a relationship coach, speaker and bestselling author of ReDate Your Mate, 4Â Steps to Falling in Love All Over Again (Boomer Edition).

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If you’re feeling lonely, your spouse probably is too. So don’t be afraid to take the initiative, start the conversation, and be proactive. Even if your spouse is resistant, be persistent. You might: • Turn off the TV two nights a week and talk about current events, the latest books you read, or a movie you saw—anything other than the same old stuff. • Allocate 15 minutes a day to having coffee or a cocktail together. • Schedule shared experiences: visit a museum, go to a concert, host a dinner party, or walk around the block. • Do things together that you usually do alone: walking the dog, cooking, or shopping. • Revisit memories: watch your wedding video, thumb through photo albums, reminisce.

• Regularly get away together for an evening, a day, or an occasional weekend. • Rekindle the flame of affection: touch more, kiss more, and hug longer.

Be persistent Old habits very often die hard. Breaking out of the loneliness cycle may feel forced and strange at first. It requires stepping out of your comfort zone but there’s no other way.

In time, doing those things that keep you emotionally connected will feel natural. One of you may find it easier than the other so be patient. You may backslide, so do your best to stay positive and don’t get discouraged.

Get help if necessary but whatever you do, don’t give up.Â

grand families

Cruising with your grandkids in your own backyard

BY JAIA LENT AND ALAN KING

A

lready adept at successfully meeting challenges, Barbara Wells thought her biggest ones were behind her. Barbara was single, and all of her grown children had families of their own, so she’d been looking forward to a retirement that included cross-country trips. She hadn’t planned on raising another child, but that all changed her grandson, Jay’son moved in with her after his parents were incarcerated.

“I wasn’t going to let him go into the system,” recalled Wells, who’s among the 2.7 million grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Wells had to make compromises, but she didn’t want to sacrifice all of her travels plans, so she did what any independent grandmother would do: she brought her fourteen-year-old grandson along. Over the years, they’ve Jaia Peterson Lent is Deputy Executive Director, and Alan King is Communications Specialist, of Generations United (GU), home to the National Center on Grandfamilies, and a leading voice kinship caretakers.

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“We have retired friends who are always telling us about their next cruise to Hawaii, or wherever. I tell them I go on cruises every day: I cruise to school, I cruise to the mall, I cruise to the doctor’s office, and I cruise to the skateboarding park. My grandson Joey is my cruise to Hawaii, and you know what? I wouldn’t trade my cruise for theirs.”

—Adrian Charniak, Riverside Illinois

taken road trips through Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia. Barbara turned each trip into a learning adventure, which gave them a way to share their enthusiasm for special places.

Millions of grandparents across the country are raising their grandkids, and many forego whatever travel they had planned in their golden years to direct their time and resources to providing for their grandchild’s needs.

Yet, as Barbara Wells instinctively knew, finding ways to travel and explore together are important elements of building family connections and helping children learn— and one can plan and experience adventures, even on a tight budget.

Take a historical tour of your town: every town has historical buildings, as well as courthouses and city offices, with photographs lining their walls, offering a chance to talk about history and about modern-day government, particularly the local political process and the ways young people can get involved.

Go camping: the outdoors is full of fun things to do, from hiking and canoeing to lying on the grass, pointing out constellations.

Children don’t need fancy fixings for camping; they’re usually happy to be outdoors, “roughing it.” Pitch a tent in your backyard, fire up the barbeque, and make s’mores.

Share a Kin-Pal experience: through the Kin-Pal. Kin-Pal is a program that connects youth in grandfamilies with kinship kids in another area. Encourage your support group leader to contact the facilitator of another kinship support group and ask if they’d be willing to participate.

grand finances

Are your grandkids financially literate?

Start now for a successful future

BY LAURA S. PERRICONE

W

e tend to discuss ‘literacy’ all the time—but what about financial literacy? Many in the business community and educators are concerned about economic literacy in America, particularly as changes nationally, and on a worldwide scale, take place so rapidly. We need to prepare our young people for the challenges ahead.

All fifty states have finally added Economics to their K–12 standards, but so far only six high schools nationwide have added the testing of student knowledge of personal finance to their exit requirements, which is remarkably slow in light of the need to catch up. As such, it’s vitally important that parents and grandparents pick up the slack, taking advantage of opportunities to share age-appropriate, economic information, from budgeting to brand marketing to free trade economies—and how it all impacts their grandchildren’s financial future.

L. S. Perricone is an economics teacher, author, artist, & entrepreneur. Her books include 6th Grade Entrepreneurs and 8th Grade C-E-Oh!

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What can grandparents do?

Whether we’re aware of it or not, our grandkids pick up on our attitudes toward many things, including money, employment, retirement, investment, and career expectations for them, even if we only see them occasionally. As a result, what we don’t say, can affect them more than what is said, and that includes finances.

What may be missing, however, is their understanding of why you live within a budget or weigh pros and cons before purchasing something or chose to go to college, and this is useful information.

Actionable steps you can take: Have conversations about finances. Look for opportunities to discuss budgeting, saving, planning ahead, making wise purchases, and so on. With older grandchildren, you can discuss the stock and bond market, college savings funds, retirement funds, interest rates, economic indicators, the interconnectedness of consumer products and services worldwide, and so on.

Encourage innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Encourage critical thinking skills, creativity and stimulate entrepreneurial thinking by listening to their ideas with interest: from lemonade stands to nonprofits and technology apps. Entrepreneurs are younger and younger these days—and your grandchild may have a unique perspective or innovative ideas of valuable and worthy of consideration.

Provide the best resources. Look for age-appropriate books that increase their knowledge of economics, as well as websites and projects you can do together. Visit local business and discuss how they work.

Encourage financial responsibility. Provide opportunities for personal financial decision-making through managing money. They may know the difference between ‘want’ and ‘need’, but do they apply it?

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grandfather knows best

Maurice’s Valises: words of wisdom from a worldly, philosophical mouse

BY ALLAN SHEDLIN

T

here’s a sense of irony about utilizing modern technology to talk about the traditional art of storytelling with J.S. Friedman, author of the outstanding and award-winning children’s book series Maurice’s Valises; but when the author is in Phu Noi, a village on the coast of the Sea of Thailand, and I’m in my home office in Chevy Chase, Maryland, an online video

chat naturally became our method of choice.

As Jerry splits his time between Thailand, Amsterdam, and Connecticut and his central character, a peripatetic mouse named Maurice, travels the world in search of fundamental truths, it did seem appropriate to interview the author while he was traveling, The individual books can be read in any order, though it’s probably best to begin

with Book I, In the Beginning, for the back story about how a clever mouse learns that he is “destined to become the new moral compass for all mice.” In it, Maurice gets pegged to travel to many distant lands, noticing what he sees and experiences and passing down his learning down to other mice. Maurice concludes each journey by recording the lessons on Moral Scrolls for Continued on next page

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Maurice’s Valises website offers free downloads that include cutout figures and coloring pages. Maurice’s App features narration, cinematic sound effects, animation, and user interface. Children can turn a doorknob and enter Maurice’s home in the base of a sycamore tree, and they play educational games and rack up “gaming points” that they can use to help Maurice donate free books to children in hospitals around the world.

grandfather knows best Continued from previous page

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others to learn from, and then each tale and its Moral Scroll are stored in its own valise, hence the title.

Grandpa Maurice narrates the tales, enthralling his grandmice (and many nieces and nephews) from his lumpy, bumpy storytelling chair—his favorite “because the lumps were all in the right places.” The language and illustrations are in perfect alignment, with the just-right addition of lightness to make the moral lessons so worthy of attention. That such an opportunity is graced with Chris Beatrice illustrations that are instant classics—the kind that harken back to an era when the art itself signaled that this is a story that demands to be taken seriously—is a wonderful bonus.

At once timely and timeless, each story—enriched by exposure to different cultures, in far-off lands—provides an opportunity for readers to explore universal truths and profound ideas from Aesop, Buddha, Christ, Confucius, Einstein, Mohammed, the Talmud, Thoreau, and countless others.

For me, as a grandfather and an educator, the richness of opportunity to discuss fundamental questions is perhaps the series’ greatest gift. I found them valuable 32 GRAND

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discussion starters for deeper conversations with my grandchildren (who range in age from 7-17). Because publishers assign a range of ages for children’s books so that bookstores know where to shelve them, this series is “recommended” for ages 6-10. Can you imagine restricting Alice in Wonderland, Huckleberry Finn, Gulliver’s Travels, or The Phantom Tollbooth to a specific age range? As with any book(s) of this ilk, different ages will derive different understandings—and the tales also appeal to adults. Maurice’s Valises are the kind of story that’s fun to read aloud, because it’s use of language, and opportunities to create different voices for the different characters that entertain both you and your grandchild. Maurice’s Valises, whose breathtaking art and stories traverse geographical borders, will appeal to children and adults across all ages and across all borders.

So pull up your favorite storytelling chair, or cuddle with your grandchild on his/her bed, and begin your travels with Maurice—an orphan mouse given a great responsibility by the Muse of Mice—as he travels, valise in hand, to learn life’s enduring lessons.

The author J. S. Freidman is an internationally known advertising and fine arts photographer, who conceived of and created a photography book to raise consciousness about the elderly. While interviewing “super centenarians” for Earth’s Elders, The Wisdom of the World’s Oldest People, Jerry spoke with a 114-year-old Japanese woman who referred to her “memory box,” and the metaphor for Maurice’s Valises was born.

The illustrator Chris Beatrice is an award-winning artist whose work has graced the covers of classic children’s books like Gulliver’s Travels and Robinson Crusoe. He’s also an acclaimed video-game designer and commercial artist.

The spiritual advisor Lama Surya Das (Jeffrey Miller) is a Buddhist leader and spokesperson, meditation teacher, chant-master, and poet, who has authored more than thirteen books, including the international bestseller Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World.

Reviewer Allan Shedlin founded REEL FATHERS, to inspire and support men seeking relationships with their children.

He’s Grampsy to five grandchildren and the spirit grandfather to three Native American grandchildren.

memories and moments

Grandma and The Mints One girl’s memory of her grandmother’s grief

BY NANCY M. WILLIAMS

A

to get your luggage.” s soon as Grandma emerged Grandma raked her through the gate from her hands through her thick, flight from Pittsburgh, I gray hair “All right.” She spied the purse, a boxy, black vinyl smiled at my sisters number slung protectively in the and me. “I’ve got some crook of her arm. Inside, in addition surprises.” to a comb, religious cards of Jesus, “Yay!” A few passengers a deck of TWA cards, school photos smiled at the chorus from of her nine grandchildren, and a my sisters. I cheered along travel pack of Kleenex, were candy with them, although I susmints. Pastel candy mints in light pected the suitcase congreen, pale yellow, and pink. Mints tained butterscotch hard that would melt as soon as they candy and Tootsie Rolls, came into contact with my saliva. bulky candy with harsh flaMints that, at the slightest crunch, vors acceptable in a pinch would crumble into powder.

NANCY AND HER GRANDMOTHER but far inferior to the deliMy sisters and I jumped up and cate mints. down, legs and arms flailing in the En route to the baggage claim, I demonstrated for air, as Grandma approached us. She hugged us each Grandma a few grand jetés. Mom charged ahead, wantin turn, the doughy underside of her arms rubbing against my cheek, her smooth hands, as though dusted ing to collect all of Grandma’s luggage. Grandma would be staying with us in Tucson for a month. She was still with flour, caressing my arms. “Nancy-Bella,” Grandma in mourning for my Grandpa Fortune, who’d died the murmured. year before, before I had turned eight.

“Grandma,” I said. I turned out my legs and toes, In the parking lot, the hot Arizona air seemed to hit lengthened the back of my neck, and extended my Grandma like a blast from a heating vent. As we drove arms. “I’m still taking ballet.” out of the airport, a hazy film of heat hovering over “Ooo. Are you going to show me some steps?” the black road, I remembered when we had visited “Mum,” my Mom interrupted. “Not now. We have 33 GRAND

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“Compared to Pittsburgh, which Mom called “back home,” the Sonoran Desert’s green-limbed Palo Verde trees looked crooked, the graceful Ocotillos spindly, and the sprawling prickly pears squat.”

Grandma in Pittsburgh, how startled I had been at the emerald green hills, the mist in the air from a recent rain. Compared to Pittsburgh, which Mom called “back home,” the Sonoran Desert’s green-limbed Palo Verde trees looked crooked, the graceful Ocotillos spindly, and the sprawling prickly pears squat.

Grandma stared out the car window. She shook her head at the landscape, as though it were spiteful.

“Why’d he have to move you all the way out here for?

Oooo, that dirty dog.” She meant my father.

My mother’s hand tightened around the steering wheel. “Mum,” she said.

I scooted forward and hung my arms over the front seat. “It was the only place he could find a job.

Tenure,” I added, repeating the magic word.

Grandma plucked a tissue from her travel pack and dabbed her eyes. “It’s so far,” she said.

My mother’s concerned eyes scanned the rearview mirror. “Girls, Grandma’s upset about Grandpa.”

“Oh. Fortune.” Grandma said.

Grandma bowed her head for a moment. A single sob escaped her. I waited, my hands dangling, to see how long she would cry. I couldn’t imagine either of my parents weeping with such sadness over one another.

memories and moments Mom chasing Dad down the hallway when he arrived home from work, her voice angry and complaining; and Dad’s response, weary and yet disgusted, caused me secretly to worry. What, I wondered, had made my grandparents’ marriage so special? I didn’t remember much of Grandpa, just the time when I was very young when he had tapped me on the shoulder and had pretended it had been my two-year-old sister, Jean.

Mom tunrned into a strip mall and parked in front of the Sir George Royal Buffet. My father, working late at the university, would not be joining us for dinner. At the table, Mom cast an approving glance at me when I remembered to put my napkin on my lap. When the meal was over, my mother excused herself to use the bathroom. I slumped in my chair, indolent from several courses and a large piece of chocolate cake, of which I’d eaten all but one bite to save room for the mints, which I was certain would be making their appearance at any time now.

Grandma smoothed her napkin on the table, her fingers precise as though about to pin and cut a pattern from cloth. I knew that she had sewn my Aunt’s wedding dress by hand. Grandma shook the juice from a half-eaten chicken breast and then a thigh, placed both pieces of meat onto the napkin, and folded over the edges. I watched, wide-eyed.

When Mom sat down at the table, I blurted, “Grandma put some chicken in her purse.”

PHOTO CREDIT: FRANK SCHRAMM

Nancy M. Williams is an award-winning writer and founding editor of Grand Piano Passion™, an online magazine for studying the piano at any age and for making music despite hearing loss.

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NANCY’S BELOVED TUCSON

My mother leaned forward, forgetting to place her napkin on her lap. “Mum,” she said, “you can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“You don’t take out from a buffet restaurant.”

“I paid for it, didn’t I?” “Mum, take that chicken out of your purse.”

Grandma thumbed her nose at Mom. “Porcaria,” she said.

I spoke up. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” my mother said. She stared at her napkin, seemingly stunned as to why it was on the table rather than her lap. She picked it up. “For the last time, please take that chicken out of your purse.”

Grandma didn’t reply. She simply sat there, her chubby hands locked around her purse’s handles. I fervently hoped the chicken was not proximate to the side-zippered pockets where she kept the mints, lest some the brown juices seep from the napkin and stain the candy.

After we arrived home, the chicken safely spirited into our refrigerator, Grandma and I sat on my bed, my head resting against her soft arm. On my dresser

was last year’s Christmas gift from Grandma, a wind-up music doll, a shepardess with light yellow hair sitting on a field of pastel green grass, in a frothed pink dress, in the same delicious colors as the mints. She rotated serenely to “Somewhere My Love,” one of Grandma’s favorite songs. I wound up the base, and the doll plucked out the notes, wistful and haunting. Grandma hummed along in a lower octave in her alto voice.

For a fleeting moment, I considered asking for the mints. But first, not quite understanding what propelled me, I said, “Grandma, do you miss Grandpa?”

Grandma sobbed. “Oh, Fortune,” she said.

My mother, who was passing by in the hall, drew in her breath with concern. “Mum, you’re not crying again?”

“She misses Grandpa,” I said. I patted Grandma’s shoulder.

I had known she would cry. I had wanted to see her do it once more. Watching Grandma weep for Grandpa cemented in me the hope that a woman could love a man keenly, deeply, and would be haunted by his memory.

After my mother left the room, Grandma rummaged through her purse. At first, when she held out her hand, I thought she was offering me a tissue.

Instead, nestled in the white tissue like the crown jewels of London displayed on cream satin were the mints, and she said, with a grin on her face and her deep voice full of conspiracy, “Nancy-Bella, would you like a piece of candy?”

SEND US YOUR STORIES We here at GRAND love personal stories and welcome any that pertain to grandparent/grandchild relationships.

If you’d like to see yours in print, click here to let us know, and include a copy of the file with your email.

grand finale

Are your ducks in a row for spring?

Makes 6 servings

M

ine aren’t, but I’m working on the list. Living in the northeast, where snowstorm after snowstorm pummeled us, I can’t wait until the thaw sets in and the most beautiful color of spring—that fresh, fresh green— bursts forth in New England. After living in California for many years, I really missed that definitive shift from winter to spring. And though California certainly had its charms, living here has reminded me that there really is “spring fever,” and I love catching it. We hope you enjoyed our issue, and that you’re excited for spring. Drop me a line sometime . . .

Wishing you a happy, healthy spring.

Susan

Susan Reynolds Editor/Managing Editor 35 GRAND

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A somewhat healthier mac n’ cheese My kids always loved mac n’ cheese, but now, I make my own and slip in nutrients, like broccoli crowns, peas, green beans, artichokes, mushrooms, tomatoes, kale, or whatever I may have that’s fresh, and add chicken sausage or shrimp. Instead of fatty creams, I use cooked butternut squash or sweet potato (mashed or soups), and I occasionally use at least one low-fat cheese in placed of a whole-fat one. Here’s a simple recipe that you can tweak to suit your family’s tastes:

Ingredients: • 12 ounces gluten-free pasta rigatoni or shells [as an option, use whole-wheat or spinach pasta] • 1 cup almond milk [or 2% milk] • ½ cup of non-fat Greek yoghurt • 1 cup grated fresh Parmesan • 1 cup cheddar, shredded • 1 cup cooked butternut squash or sweet potato, mashed [or soup] • 1 cup of chicken sausage or large shrimp, cut into chunky pieces [you can use chicken hot dogs, if you prefer] • 1 tsp salt • ½ teaspoon pepper • 2 tablespoons bread crumbs • 2 tablespoons Monterey Jack cheese Optional spices: • 1 tsp dry mustard • ½ tsp Worcester sauce • 1/2 tsp chili powder

CLICK HERE for cooking instructions