by Marlene Bumgarner | Dec 28, 2015 | Family, Good Reads, Grandparenting
The Gift of Poetry My almost-five-year-old granddaughter distributed our gifts on Christmas morning. “This one’s really heavy, Grandma,” she announced as she placed a large colored bag beside me on the couch. “I think you should open it...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Dec 7, 2015 | Aging, Community, Family, Grandparenting, Technology
Technology in the Nursery I recently discovered that I need to take a parenting class for grandparents. When I was in Denver talking to my daughter and her husband about their soon-to-be-born new baby, I realized, even though I teach child development, I was...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 30, 2015 | Aging, Family, Grandparenting
I’ve been in Colorado for a week, visiting my youngest daughter and her husband, along with her husband’s parents who flew in from the East Coast. Our children are expecting their first child in March, and it was snowing, so we spent a lot of time sitting in front of...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 16, 2015 | Aging, Community, Family, Grandparenting, Health
Hearing Congressman Sam Farr say that at 75 he’s decided to retire and become the full time caregiver for his grandchildren made me wonder just how meaningful he will find that after a few years. I’ve been retired now for three years, and I have discovered that...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 9, 2015 | Community, England, Family, Grandparenting
“Grandma, tell me something sad from when you were a little girl.” Four (“and a half”) year old Bean is sitting behind me in the car, eating her snack and looking at the ocean beside the highway. I made a decision when I began driving her...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 2, 2015 | Family, Good Reads, Grandparenting, Health, Nature
Last week I introduced Richard Louv’s concept of nature deficit disorder, and his theory that helping children develop a connection with nature may prevent a variety of health and behavioral issues Ever since, I’ve been thinking about those three butterfly...