Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

Grandparents Day Is Today — How to Grandparent and Why

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Grandparents Day. A grandfather, father and grandson, circa 1941. Photo by Tinka Falconer
In honor of Grandparents Day today, I pulled out this old photo of two Grandpa Falconers sitting on a porch in Scottville, Michigan in the 1940s. The men are my father and grandfather. The little guy is my big brother, now a Grandpa Falconer in his own right. Photo by Tinka Falconer

By Barbara Falconer Newhall

It’s Grandparents Day today, and I’m wondering — grandparenting, how do you do it? I’ve been mulling that question since 2016, when Grandchild No. 1 arrived on the scene, and I still haven’t a clue.

Why do it? Because we can’t help ourselves.

Here are some stories that take on those questions.

Grandparenting Via Webam — Helping Out Those Frazzled Parents

Grandparents day. grandmother-skypes
Babysitting via webcam. Jon and I tried it with mixed results. Here, our grandchildren Skype with the The Library Lady — that’s me. Read more. 

A Grandchild Is Born — And So Is A Grandpa

grandparents day. Berrypicking grandfather and grandson. Photo by BF Newhall
My son Peter berry picking with his Grandpa. My father had no problem with being called Grandpa. But at least one guy I know  couldn’t go there — at first. Read more.