by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 28, 2016 | Child development, Community, Cooking and Eating, Family, Grandparenting
Make a Gratitude Tree Next Thanksgiving At our family Thanksgiving gathering we made a Gratitude Tree. Earlier in the day my five year old granddaughter had painted the trunk of the tree on a piece of poster paper I had rolled up and carried to San Diego in my...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 16, 2016 | Aging, Community, Cooking and Eating, Family
I’m feeling a bit stretched right now, as I suspect many of you are. Between the after-election malaise and the annoyance of Christmas carols before we’ve even celebrated Thanksgiving, I feel the need for some down time. Thus, no regular post this week....
by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 2, 2016 | Aging, Child development, Cooking and Eating, Family, Grandparenting, Travel
Packing Activities in a Suitcase One of the topics we discussed at our second Grandparent Meetup was how to nurture relationships with grandchildren who live far away. Favorites were frequent visits, FaceTime and Skype conversations, affectionate notes mailed...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Aug 29, 2016 | Child development, Cooking and Eating, Family, Grandparenting
No Pablum for This Generation In the 1960s and 70s, when Baby Boomer parents were faced with the question “When should I start solids?” the answer was often “as early as possible.” At least that’s the answer our mothers and aunties and...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Aug 22, 2016 | Aging, Cooking and Eating, Family, Grandparenting, Health, Technology
A New Way to Plan and Prepare Meals “I am so sick of cooking for myself” my friend Martha announced as we walked to our cars after exercise class. The sun had finally broken through the coastal overcast and the late afternoon warmth felt good on my neck. ...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Aug 8, 2016 | Aging, Cooking and Eating, Family, Grandparenting, Health
Chopping Vegetables A few weeks before she was due to give birth to her first child, one of my daughters invited me to her house to chop vegetables. I had been bugging her, asking what I could do to help, so I didn’t question her when she called; just showed up...