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Past Issues

Who Carries The Responsibility For Your Child’s Choices?

Before I had children, I knew exactly how to raise kids. I watched carefully as a family with 6 children, ages 1 to 13 sat quietly through an entire church service. Even the baby! Now there! THAT is how MY kids are going to behave, I decided. After all, I would have control over my children. Weren’t they my [...]

The Influence of Grandparents and Stepgrandparents on Grandchildren

Laura DeHaan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Child Development, NDSU

Over the past 20 years, increased attention has been given to the importance of grandparenthood. This newfound emphasis on grandparenthood and stepgrandparenthood is a reflection of the increased life span; adults are living longer and four- and five-generation families are more common. It’s also a [...]

Who Will Remember You? Your Grandkids?

By:  Lily Prellezo

 

Who will remember you when you’re dead and gone? Will your legacy simply fill a rectangle on a family tree or will the people on the lower branches remember who you were, where you were born, what school you attended, your struggle, the endearments you called your spouse, your favorite ice [...]

Gone

There’s little left that I can do.  My bones are weak,  my strength is gone;

my days of lifting children high,  of sending kites  up to the sky,  of playing softball on the lawn,  of climbing sand dunes  by the lake,  of nailing shingles on a roof,  of painting a gable,  of planting a [...]

Are You Stuck in Victim Thinking?

The whistle blew to line up for the water balloon toss.  4 year old Kerrington excitedly ran over to get in place.  As the rules were explained, my niece came running back looking very worried.  I got down eye level and asked what was wrong. “Well,” she said with her hands and arms waving expressively, “first I [...]

Secrecy is Fertile Ground For Abuse

“Get out of there, YOU IDIOT!” boomed a male voice.  Stepping out my front door, I heard his yell blast through the neighborhood. Someone was being abused.

Abuse is more than bruises and violence. This man’s words were emotional abuse: belittling, shaming, name calling, yelling.  But, subtle abuse, like giving the silent treatment, neglect or [...]

Being Self-Sufficient Can Cause Lonliness

“I cut my hair,” my 4 year old granddaughter announced, bouncing out of the bathroom.  “I did it all by myself!”  That was obvious! But, she seemed very happy with her new hairstyle.  Reality hit when she went back to take another look in the mirror. She starred at herself and yelled, “I LOOK HORRIBLE!!!”

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