Grandparents Day - 10 ways to preserve your family’s unique story this National Grandparents Day

With Grandparents day coming up this weekened here are some tips from Hazel Cole Kendle, the 88-year-old first-time author of the just-released Cole Family Christmas. This year’s Grandparent’s Day will mark its 30th anniversary on Sept. 7.

“It’s a myth that young people don’t want to hear the stories their grandparents can tell,” said Kendle. “However, too often grandparents and great-grandparents feel like they must wait to be asked before telling those stories. Realize that family members often won’t ask for the first story, but once you start talking, they’ll be begging for more.”

Jennifer Liu Bryan of Alexandria, Virginia, Kendle’s granddaughter-in-law and co-author, points out that grandparents don’t have to stop with stories, either.

“There are many ways to pass along family traditions,” said Bryan. “Remember the favorite dessert your grandmother used to make or the dishes she received on her wedding day. Each item serves as a connection to the past, but we have to work to keep that chain from breaking.”

For this reason, Kendle and Bryan suggest 10 ways families can preserve their memories this Grandparents Day.

1. Construct a family memory book. Gather pictures of family members across generations and make a scrapbook by writing in the stories that have been passed on through generations.

2. Play a game the grandparents used to play. Kids had fun long before video games were invented. Play a game from the analog era to show the grandchildren how it was done.

3. Read a book your grandparents read when they were your age. Grandparents can make classic children’s literature even more rewarding by adding in details of what life was like at the time.

4. Learn how to cook grandma’s favourite recipe. Whether that’s a traditional holiday dish or her secret cookie recipe, spend time in the kitchen with grandma cooking a recipe that can be passed down to the next generation.

5. Take part in a grandparent’s favorite hobby. Whether that is painting, gardening, or putting together puzzles, spend time with your grandparents and learn about the daily activities that bring them joy.

6. Pick out one interesting, unique or strange family heirloom. Grandparents can explain the history of the item and why it is special to the family.

7. Learn where you came from. Drive through your grandparents’ old neighborhood and listen to stories about their old neighbors or family outings at the local park.

8. Go back in time to the movies. Rent a classic the grandparents enjoyed seeing on the big screen years ago. There are plenty of great old movies other than just the ones that run during the holidays.

9. Ask to look at your grandparent’s wedding pictures or high school yearbooks. Learn about their best friends and see pictures of them when they were so much younger.

10. Preserve a memory for future generations. Make a home video with them and let them discuss their favorite stories.

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Next Chapter Press has released 60,000 copies of Cole Family Christmas, a true, tender, and wholly unforgettable tale that has been passed down from generation to generation through a coal miner's family.



When one of Mama’s few possessions, a treasured purple glass bowl with fluted edges, is accidentally broken by exuberant children rushing in from the outdoors, and an unlikely blizzard prevents Papa from coming home after working extra hours at the coal mine on Christmas Eve, hopes for a picture perfect Christmas were quickly quelled. However, the hours that followed that turbulent Christmas morning created a joyful story that has lived in family lore for years.

Amanda's Book Nook: The Lazy Husband: How to Get Men to Do More Parenting and Housework by Joshua Coleman

Volume 18: Book Review: The Lazy Husband: How to Get Men to Do More Parenting and Housework by Joshua Coleman

The Lazy Husband, written in 2005 by Joshua Coleman, PH.D, a husband and a father, is a must read for any woman who feels that she has too much of a domestic workload and not enough support from her husband.

Coleman uses examples of conflict between various couples. He explains the situation well and also describes how a wife might go about solving the problem, using specific dialogue examples.

The differences that cause conflict between men and women have been known for a long time, think Men are from Mars, Women Are From Venus. This book is written as a tool for women to better understand how to change the domestic responsibilities in their home. It is written by a man, who offers many personal examples in order to assist women get to the root of their problems. Included in this book is one chapter for the husband to read. It is definitely written man to man.

After reading this book, I have a much better appreciation for my husband. Don't get me wrong, I truly appreciated him before, but I have an understanding (as small as it may be) that it is difficult to be a husband too. Women have issues that are difficult for men to deal with too. Women's issues are just different than men's. It's how we deal with our issues with one another that matters. One critical word or parental "over ride" can make or break a situation.

Amanda's Book Nook: More Elizabeth Pantley Books: The No-Cry Potty Training Solution and The No-Cry Discipline Solution

Volume 16: More Elizabeth Pantley Books: The No-Cry Potty Training Solution and The No-Cry Discipline Solution

Pantley's book, The No-Cry Discipline Solution, won the 2007 iParenting Media Award for Outstanding Book! I definitely understand why. This well written book offers parents a variety of tried and tested discipline techniques that help meet your long term parenting goals. Pantley emphasizes that we, as parents, must think long term rather than short term when making parenting and discipline decisions. She offers techniques for staying calm (the parent) and avoiding anger--a key step to effective discipline along with an anger control plan.

The No-Cry Discipline Solution discusses solutions to every day problems that parents encounter with their children. Pantley addresses tantrums, fussing and whining and offers suggestions for the cause of the real problem at hand (is the child hungry, frustrated, bored, overstimulated, scared, feeling powerless or confused). She then helps parents find solutions for tackling the outbursts that result from the original problem.

This book is guaranteed to help parents feel more in control of difficult situations and in turn create happier parents, children and families!

The No-Cry Potty Training Solution is an easy read for parents who are trying to or are about to try potty training their child. The beginning of the book has a "Quick Guide" (11 pages) that addresses the hot topics of potty training. This guide is useful for parents who do not have the time to invest in reading an entire book. It also provides some quick pointers to

get your started in the right direction.

The book also includes a Readiness Quiz to assist parents in understanding when the best time is to begin potty training, as this is key to the success of the adventure!

Pantley addresses everything from you need to be ready to a variety of techniques and ideas to help training go smoothly. There is an entire chapter dedicated to FAQ's regarding common problems such as bed wetting, fears revolving around using the potty and daycare and potty training (a common challenge).

Pantley's suggestions offer ways to gently encourage, not force training in order to be successful and accomplish your goal as soon as possible.

Amanda's Book Nook: Book Review:Journey to the Darkside: Supermom Goes Home by Kathy Buckworth

Volume 14: Book Review:Journey to the Darkside: Supermom Goes Home by Kathy Buckworth

Kathy Buckworth’s book, Journey to the Darkside, is a well written, entertaining book. The book shares the journey of a “Supermom” (working mother) who becomes a “stay at home Mom” (SAHM) in a very bold, up front, humorous and at times, sarcastic manner. This book is the third of the “Supermom” series, the other two being, “The Secret Life of SuperMom” and “SuperMom:

A Celebration of All You Can Do”.

The book brings humour into everyday family life and helps us Moms feel that our lives are “normal”, whatever “normal” can be in a life with young kids. Buckworth’s writing allows us all to see the lighter side of our everyday struggles and routines.

As Laural writes on her blog, “She (Kathy) takes an incredibly humourous look at what it’s truly like to stay at home with kids. She is somehow able to describe the boredom and busy-ness at the same time. Her descriptions of the various types of moms out there was hilarious.

By the time I finished reading the book there were two things that happened. First, I truly understood my sister’s life a little better (she stays at home). I sometimes wish I was doing what she was, but this book reminded me, in an incredibly funny way, that it’s not as easy as she makes it look. Second, I was really glad to go to work. I’ve been reading this book on the train, and the further I got into, the more I realized I was quite happy to hang on to my title of Supermom just a little longer.”

Kathy posts her upcoming appearances, interviews and articles on her website. It is well worth a visit.

Amanda's Book Nook: Book Review: The Safe Baby by Debra Smiley Holtzman

Volume 13:Book Review: The Safe Baby by Debra Smiley Holtzman

Debra Smiley Holtzman, the author of The Safe Baby, is an internationally acclaimed safety and health expert, a parenting columnist, a Radio & TV personality

and a best-selling author.

The Safe Baby is a well written "Do it Yourself Guide" to home safety. We all strive to be good parents to our children. Keeping them safe is definitely one of the more challenging jobs as a parent. Our homes are filled with hazards to our children and it is often difficult and overwhelming, as a new parent, to think of all of the potential hazardous areas. Debra Smiley Holtzman breaks down the different key areas in your house that should be addressed. In her book, she talks about the various risks as well as potential ways to protect our children from these risks.

Holtzman provides the readers with checklists as well as lists of various hazards to avoid. She addresses a variety of safety topics such as health, food, pets, household items and preparing for emergencies.

This book is a good start for parents who are overwhelmed by the prospect of childproofing their house and keeping their baby or child safe. By reading this book, you will be sure to remember all of the key areas that could pose a potential risk to your child.

Amanda's Book Nook: Book Review: The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

Book Review: The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

Elizabeth Pantley writes an incredible series of parenting books on topics including sleep, potty training and discipline. Her book entitled, The No-Cry Sleep Solution is a helpful book for parents who have a baby who has sleep problems. Whether baby won't go to bed on their own, they don't sleep through the night or nap time is a struggle, this book is for you.

The book addresses two different age groups; birth to four monthsand four months to two years. There are chapters dedicated tohelping you devise a plan that works for your family and how to create sleep logs to track your success. Most importantly, Pantley believes that good sleeping habits can be formed without tears (yours or your baby's!). Pantley's Ten Steps to Helping your Baby Sleep All Night provides the reader with many suggestions and tips to pick and choose from. The second part of the book talks about the parent and how to address their specific needs as well.

Like The No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers and preschoolers, The No-Cry Sleep Solution is definitely a book worth reading. It is well written, is an easy read and will most likely assist any family experiencing bedtime issues.

Amanda's Book Nook: Book Review: The No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers and preschoolers

Book Review: The No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers and preschoolers by Elizabeth Pantley

Elizabeth Pantley writes an incredible series of parenting books topics including sleep, potty training and discipline.

Her book entitled, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers andpreschoolers, is a must read for parents who have either:

• a toddler/preschooler who has never been a good
  

sleeper and are looking for practical solutions for helping

this situation

OR

• a toddler/preschooler who is having difficulty transitioning to
  

new sleep situation (e.g.new bedroom) or have begun to have sleep problems

Pantley’s book provides very specific suggestions for how to analyze your personal situation as well as a variety of steps/suggestions that you can try to improve your sleep situation with your toddler. Her practical and supportive text allows parents to take the information that sounds helpful and leave the tips that will not work for their family. She recognizes that every family as well as every child is unique and will therefore have a unique situation that requires careful thought and implementation of a strategy that will work for them.

In Part Two of her book, she lists eight sleep tips for every child. This section is a wonderful resource for all parents to read. She then writes about solutions for a variety of common sleep problems such as “Bedtime Battles”, “ Nap time problems” and “Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking”.

Throughout her book, Pantley emphasizes the importance of consistency as well as giving each plan a fair try. She provides parents with solutions that are easy to understand and follow.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers and preschoolers is definitely a book worth reading. It is well written, is an easy read and will most likely assist any family experiencing bedtime issues.