Tag Archive for entertaining

Grandkids Then and Now, Pt. 3

When I saw this, written by Annie Korzen and published in the AARP Bulletin (May 2016), I alternated between chuckles and nodding in agreement.  Because I like to keep my posts short, I’m dividing this up into a few, spread-out posts.  If you’d lke to see Part 1, go to http://www.jackieodonnell.net/2016/05/11/grandkids-then-and-now-pt-1/ and Part 2 at http://www.jackieodonnell.net/2016/08/10/grandkids-then-and-now-pt-2/

 

I’m a new grandmother [says Annie Korzen], but am I cut out for it?  Look at how differently I raised my son from how he’s raising his.

Summer vacation  —  Then: One week at the country home of elderly relatives.    Now:  One week at the home of Pliny the Elder–in Pompeii.

Discipline  —  Then:  “I hope your brats are twice as bad!”    Now:  “Schuyler, I’m not disappointed in you personally; I’m disappointed in your action of setting the cat on fire.”

Clothing  —  Then:  Hand-me-downs, like that pink tutu my son still holds against me.  (Hey, the price was right!)    Now:  That Dolce & Gabbana  outfit was just $575?

Entertaining  —  Then:  Kids sat at the kids’ table, where the rule was “No comments from the peanut gallery!”    Now:   Kids join the guests at the dinner table.  The conversation is with and about them.

Teenagers  —  Then: You wisely minimized contact with these known sociopaths.    Now:  Weekly family visits with a therapist to prevent drug addiction, unsafe sex or eating disorders.

[And there you have it.  But who cares abnout the generation gap?  Grandkids are GREAT!]