The featured image in this post is the picture of my granddaughter at a few months old, who, by the way, went out practicing driving with her new driver's permit the other day. Yes, that is also the same beauty at about three years old that I am holding in my Facebook profile picture (image on the right). Are you beginning to sense a theme here? She has Grandpa Neil’s heart in her hand. She is an accomplished actress, and when I see her on stage playing a 30-something…….well, I guess that is why I titled this post as I did. I am truly a Proud Grandpa!
When I talk with my grandkids, as I am fortunate enough to do almost weekly, my message is to face this COVID-19 deal with Calm and Common sense.
I am always reminded of Voltaire's saying, “Common sense is not so common.” I offer the idea anyway.
I also sew Hope in them by sharing that I am a firm believer that many good ideas and even more innovations will greet us at the other end of this tunnel. Einstien was correct when he observed that you can’t solve a challenge on the same intellectual level that you created it.

I can almost feel some that read this are thinking, that old man has lost his mind. How can he say we created this? The answer is that I can;t say for sure but I will ask, Are you really sure we didn’t create it? There are many strange happenings all around us. One weird thing that is going on is that Zoo keepers are observing that their populations are experiencing significantly more animal pregnancies since the lock down has kept the public away. Isn’t that interesting?
I am just saying that it is a time to keep a very opened mind and observe the teachings of these times. We will get through this and if we use that rare common sense in a spirit of calm and community we will come out the other side enhanced and enriched. Now how is that for incurable Optimism? I just can’t help myself.
Thank You for being Caring Grandparents
The most important grandparenting relationship isn't with your grandchildren – it's with their parents. When…
Half of parents give adult children $1,474 monthly. For grandparents, discussing finances feels impossible. Learn…
Half of parents provide $1,474 monthly to adult children. For grandparents, setting financial boundaries isn't…
New research on 11,434 children reveals that grandparent-parent alignment matters more than involvement amount. When…
The 11th Commandment of grandparenting isn’t “Thou shalt agree with the parents.” It is “Thou…
A simple, silly ritual like an Upside-Down Hug can create lifelong memories. Grandparents who build…