A survey conducted last year by BeGrand.net revealed that 81% of grandparents thought their grandchildren are more spoiled than they were. And they say it’s not just money, it’s far more than that.
As a grandmother myself, I say that's true and the sad thing is, I think spoiling my grandson at this stage may do him more harm than good down the road.
For example, I still iron because I like to iron and I like the way nicely pressed clothes look beyond permanent press. My grandson has gotten accustomed to having his clothes ironed. He now thinks everything he wears should be ironed, including his undershirts and boxers. That's something my mother used to do for my father but I ain't my mother.
Another thing is the fact that he has to have his strawberries and blueberries prepared in a certain way. The strawberries must be cut into halves with the blueberries on top, sprinkled with sugar.
He is also into the "preppy look." Now, I am not going to take 100 percent of the blame for this because his mother has a hand in his clothes shopping but between the two of us, we have given him a "Dapper Dan" complex.
I think there are many parents and grandparents who go above and beyond what is necessary to keep their children happy. The truth is, if a child grows accustomed to having it their way and being pampered all the time, then it stops being special treatment and becomes the "norm". To get them to appreciate what you do for them, you need to find a way to make them see how much effort you put in.
The best case scenerio, in my grandson's case, is that he will grow up and learn to do these things for himself---without relying on someone else to do them for him. He will also learn to appreciate how hard his grandma had to work to do those "special" things for him---and that's one lesson I definitely don't mind teaching.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Friday, February 04, 2011
Grandma's Pregnant
My four-year-old grandson has become my new personal trainer. He is my biggest motivator and inspiration when it comes to my efforts to get rid of my middle age spread.
For the past several days he has come up to me, leaned his head on my stomach and asked, "Grandma, do you have a baby in your belly?" Now, you and I both know no adult would have the nerve to say that--but my grandson's inquiring mind wants to know based on the evidence he thinks he sees.
No, he has no concept of what it means to fight the battle of the bulge. He only equates pudge with pregnancy so I guess that means I must go ahead and give birth---and try to do it in less than nine months!
In the meantime, please enjoy this video I created a few years ago after I wrote my first book: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age.
For the past several days he has come up to me, leaned his head on my stomach and asked, "Grandma, do you have a baby in your belly?" Now, you and I both know no adult would have the nerve to say that--but my grandson's inquiring mind wants to know based on the evidence he thinks he sees.
No, he has no concept of what it means to fight the battle of the bulge. He only equates pudge with pregnancy so I guess that means I must go ahead and give birth---and try to do it in less than nine months!
In the meantime, please enjoy this video I created a few years ago after I wrote my first book: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Mother Jailed for Wanting Children to Get Good Education
Kelly Williams-Bolar of Ohio and I (formerly of Ohio) are both mothers who have our childrens' best interests at heart and we will do whatever is necessary in order to make sure they have the best opportunities in life. Yes, that means LYING if we have to.
Ms. Williams-Bolar did the same thing two years ago that I did seven years ago. We both lied to ensure that our children would get a better education.
Fortunately for me, my lying went undetected---but not so for Ms. Williams-Bolar. Her lying landed her in jail charged with defrauding the school system for two years of educational services for her girls. She is also ordered to pay back $30 thousand dollars in tuition--a figure the court decided was the cost of sending her children to the wrong school.
Certainly, the fact that Ms. Williams-Bolar is a black woman had nothing to do with it,right? Whatever happened to the "no child left behind" that former President Bush kept harping on? Maybe it means don't leave them behind in the wrong school district.
No white parent has ever lied to get their child in a better school because they already go to the BEST schools.
The sad thing is her felony conviction keeps her from being able to get her teacher's license---which she was going to school for. Shame on that school district!
On the other hand, kudos to my school board for not wasting time investigating whether I was lying or not.
In my case, I initially told the truth by asking that my daughter be removed from the school she was attending in the district we lived in because I wanted her to get a quality education and it wasn't happening there. That request was denied. I appealed, went before the school board again with a well thought out lie and my request was APPROVED. To find out what that lie was you can read all about it in my new book, Don't Ask and I Won't Have to Lie.
I may have to resort to lying again since I now have a grandson coming up in the ranks.
Ms. Williams-Bolar did the same thing two years ago that I did seven years ago. We both lied to ensure that our children would get a better education.
Fortunately for me, my lying went undetected---but not so for Ms. Williams-Bolar. Her lying landed her in jail charged with defrauding the school system for two years of educational services for her girls. She is also ordered to pay back $30 thousand dollars in tuition--a figure the court decided was the cost of sending her children to the wrong school.
Certainly, the fact that Ms. Williams-Bolar is a black woman had nothing to do with it,right? Whatever happened to the "no child left behind" that former President Bush kept harping on? Maybe it means don't leave them behind in the wrong school district.
No white parent has ever lied to get their child in a better school because they already go to the BEST schools.
The sad thing is her felony conviction keeps her from being able to get her teacher's license---which she was going to school for. Shame on that school district!
On the other hand, kudos to my school board for not wasting time investigating whether I was lying or not.
In my case, I initially told the truth by asking that my daughter be removed from the school she was attending in the district we lived in because I wanted her to get a quality education and it wasn't happening there. That request was denied. I appealed, went before the school board again with a well thought out lie and my request was APPROVED. To find out what that lie was you can read all about it in my new book, Don't Ask and I Won't Have to Lie.
I may have to resort to lying again since I now have a grandson coming up in the ranks.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
So What Is This Baby Boomer Blog Really About
More often than not, I get emails from folks who are interested in being a guest blogger or offering something they think would be of value to my readers. Normally, I don't respond to them if I don't think it pertains to me but today I was feeling a little feisty and decided to challenge the recipient to the following email:
Baby Boomer Talk & other stuff
Ms. Beverly Mahone Blogger
Can we interest you in taking a look at this wonderful and unique pregnancy planner? The creator Pam (last name withheld) is also available for interviews.. She is a recognized professional organizer, has lots of really helpful ideas and advice, and is a great guest. If you'd like to receive a review copy, please verify your best street address and let us know how we can help you.
Paul (last name withheld), Publicist for Pam (last name withheld)
PREGNANCY PLANNER??? WHAT?! OK--so there is a picture of a little boy on my blog but he's my grandson and the blog header clearly states BABY BOOMER TALK and other stuff.
So here's what I wrote back:
You obviously haven't taken a look at my website because it has nothing to do with BABIES at all!
To which I received this response:
So sorry for the inconvenience. I work closely with media and try very hard to meet their needs.
You are absolutely correct. I didn’t look at your blog to see if it was a match, since over time I’ve learned that values and focus change so fast as publishers (yes even blog publishers) respond to what their audiences want and like. Basically targeting precisely sometimes is simply a bitch so I hope you can forgive me if we bring you something that’s not strictly in your desired area.
I bet he won't make that mistake again.
Baby Boomer Talk & other stuff
Ms. Beverly Mahone Blogger
Can we interest you in taking a look at this wonderful and unique pregnancy planner? The creator Pam (last name withheld) is also available for interviews.. She is a recognized professional organizer, has lots of really helpful ideas and advice, and is a great guest. If you'd like to receive a review copy, please verify your best street address and let us know how we can help you.
Paul (last name withheld), Publicist for Pam (last name withheld)
PREGNANCY PLANNER??? WHAT?! OK--so there is a picture of a little boy on my blog but he's my grandson and the blog header clearly states BABY BOOMER TALK and other stuff.
So here's what I wrote back:
You obviously haven't taken a look at my website because it has nothing to do with BABIES at all!
To which I received this response:
So sorry for the inconvenience. I work closely with media and try very hard to meet their needs.
You are absolutely correct. I didn’t look at your blog to see if it was a match, since over time I’ve learned that values and focus change so fast as publishers (yes even blog publishers) respond to what their audiences want and like. Basically targeting precisely sometimes is simply a bitch so I hope you can forgive me if we bring you something that’s not strictly in your desired area.
I bet he won't make that mistake again.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Older Women Younger Men
According to a recent survey by SeniorPeopleMeet.com, Match.com’s online dating site for boomers ages 50+, 94 percent of woman are itching to date a younger man.
Also according to the survey, 71 percent of women have already dated a younger man- with nearly 96% saying they would like to again!
I dated a younger man once. I was 17 and he was 15. It was OBVIOUS even back then that I was much more mature than he was. I was on my way to college. He was trying to pass 10th grade. I was a high school debate champion. His style of debating kept getting him suspended from school. Of course, there was one area where we seemed to be on the same page---or at least that's what I thought until I went to college and started hanging out with young men my own age and older.
According to this survey, I appear to be in the minority when it comes to dating a younger man. I am not a cougar nor do I have a desire to be one. That's because I am perfectly content with what I have, and, yes, he's OLDER.
Celebrity couples like Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, and Madonna and Jesus Luz may be the envy of many baby boomer women but my question is, just how long will they be able to hang onto their prey?
Also according to the survey, 71 percent of women have already dated a younger man- with nearly 96% saying they would like to again!
I dated a younger man once. I was 17 and he was 15. It was OBVIOUS even back then that I was much more mature than he was. I was on my way to college. He was trying to pass 10th grade. I was a high school debate champion. His style of debating kept getting him suspended from school. Of course, there was one area where we seemed to be on the same page---or at least that's what I thought until I went to college and started hanging out with young men my own age and older.
According to this survey, I appear to be in the minority when it comes to dating a younger man. I am not a cougar nor do I have a desire to be one. That's because I am perfectly content with what I have, and, yes, he's OLDER.
Celebrity couples like Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, and Madonna and Jesus Luz may be the envy of many baby boomer women but my question is, just how long will they be able to hang onto their prey?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
All Grandparents Need a Back Up Plan in Case of the Flu
What's a poor grandparent to do when it comes to taking care the grandkids? If we keep them at home with us 24/7, they drive us crazy. If we send them off to daycare or pre-school, they come home with nasty germs and other bacteria that they are bound to pass on to us.
That's what happened to me last week as I was trying to nurse my grandson back to health from some flu virus he had to receive at his daycare. As he got well, I found myself flat on my back with all kinds of aches, pains, congestion and a headache that wouldn't quit.
The flu virus is usually prominent from October through May, the time of year typically known as "flu season." I should've known that but since I haven't had the flu in more than 10 years, I figured I had to be immuned from it despite all the reports that indicate older adults, young children and people with specific health conditions are at higher risk for serious flu complications.
On average annually in the U.S: 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu; over 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and about 23,600 people die from the flu-related causes.
No, I didn't die although there are times I felt like I was on my way.
If you are the primary caregiver of a small child and you get sick make sure you have someone who can help out while you recover. And by all means, make sure your grandchild can stay in a healthier environment so you don't keep passing the germs back and forth.
I was blessed to have a husband to nurse me back to health and the great-grandparents also pitched in by keeping our grandson.
That's what happened to me last week as I was trying to nurse my grandson back to health from some flu virus he had to receive at his daycare. As he got well, I found myself flat on my back with all kinds of aches, pains, congestion and a headache that wouldn't quit.
The flu virus is usually prominent from October through May, the time of year typically known as "flu season." I should've known that but since I haven't had the flu in more than 10 years, I figured I had to be immuned from it despite all the reports that indicate older adults, young children and people with specific health conditions are at higher risk for serious flu complications.
On average annually in the U.S: 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu; over 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and about 23,600 people die from the flu-related causes.
No, I didn't die although there are times I felt like I was on my way.
If you are the primary caregiver of a small child and you get sick make sure you have someone who can help out while you recover. And by all means, make sure your grandchild can stay in a healthier environment so you don't keep passing the germs back and forth.
I was blessed to have a husband to nurse me back to health and the great-grandparents also pitched in by keeping our grandson.
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Chicken Polka Dots
When I picked up my grandson one day last week from daycare he asked me if he had the chicken polka dots. He sounded really serious about it so so I didn't want to burst out laughing over something that sounded ridiculous to me. I kept digging to try to get to the bottom of his inquiry. He started pointing to his face and then it hit me---he meant the CHICKEN POX.
He told me that's what Little Bill had and he wanted to know if he would get them too.
To be perfectly honest, I haven't thought of childhood diseases since my grown daughter was her son's age but now as his primary caregiver, I must be mindful of them.
If you are a baby boomer grandparent like me, it would be a good idea for you to brushen up on your knowledge of childhood diseases. Here's a site to refresh your memory: Common Childhood Diseases
He told me that's what Little Bill had and he wanted to know if he would get them too.
To be perfectly honest, I haven't thought of childhood diseases since my grown daughter was her son's age but now as his primary caregiver, I must be mindful of them.
If you are a baby boomer grandparent like me, it would be a good idea for you to brushen up on your knowledge of childhood diseases. Here's a site to refresh your memory: Common Childhood Diseases
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Passing the Torch from Baby Boomers to Millennials to Gen Z
Whether baby boomers can accept it or not, a changing of the guard has taken place with millennials and the up and coming Gen Z generations...
