As grandparents we try hard not to spoil our grandchildren with “things”.  Instead, we offer them endless unconditional love, educational experiences, happy memories filled with fun and adventure.   As much as we laugh together and play together, we remain their grandparents.  This is important for their age esteem as much as it is for ours.

Recent studies at Yale University, USA and the National Institute on Aging in the USA show that the attitude that children have towards aging influences how they feel about age when they become older.  This means that our attitude towards our own age is an important factor for our little ones later in their lives as well as today.

In order to offer unconditional love to our grandchildren, we must love ourselves unconditionally.  This indicates that we love ourselves at the age we are and celebrate ourselves as well as our grandchildren.   Children feel this sincerity and what we get in return are

• lopsided hugs and sticky kisses,
• pet names that only a child could chose,
• questions and statements that melt our hearts,
• a chance to rediscover life through new eyes, and
• the privilege of knowing we are important in very unique and important ways to our grandchildren.

Age esteem is the perfect gift for every occasion.

Bonnie Across-generations, Grandparenting, Happiness at Every Age age-esteem, attitude, celebrate, grandchildren, grandparents, National Institute on Aging, perfect gift, unconditional love, Yale

Having fun and meeting with people of different generations keeps us up to date on what is happening in the world as seen from other age groups.  It also gives us opportunities to share from our own point of view.

A delightful way to meet with others is through traditions that we share.  The tradition of having an annual family picnic to celebrate the national holiday creates memories for each member of the family.

If you don’t have a family, borrow neighbors and friends to create an intergenerational tradition.  Here are some ideas.

• Organize a treasure hunt mixing ages on each team.  It is a great way to learn to value the qualities of others as you follow clues that demand creativity, logic, technical skills, physical agility…  Different members get to shine at different moments.  You can be certain that it will become a tradition as participants beg to have another.
• Produce a play and perform it for friends and neighbors each summer.  All ages can work together as actors, prompters, ticket sellers…  You can perform outdoors or in a garage.
• Orchestrate a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.  Each person can arrive with a homemade hat or you can encourage them to bring material, ribbon, paper, flowers and food like string beans with them for everyone to share while they make their hats on the spot.  You can also break them into teams to make one hat among them which is then modeled and judged.  Be sure to have a judge from each age group on the jury.

Ideas are endless.  Fly kites.  Line dance.  Have a day at the beach.  Organize a spelling contest.  You will be surprised how much fun it can be to begin an intergenerational tradition.

Bonnie Across-generations, Happiness at Every Age celebrate, intergenerational, Mad Hatter's Tea Party, memories, traditions, treasure hunt

Happy Mother’s Day!

Most countries have a special day to celebrate mothers.  Mother’s Day is a wonderful occasion for traditions:  children make little gifts and cards in school; bouquets of flowers are gathered; poems are written; mother’s chores are done by others so she can rest…  There are multiple ways to make a mother feel special.  Why not try one of the following?

• Make a picture album with photos of you and your mother and grandmother.
• Create a book of Memories with Mom.  Fill each page with a special memory.
• Sprinkle her home with notes of love.  Put notes in places where she is sure to find them: refrigerator, medicine cabinet, pillow on her bed,…  On each note write something that you love about her.  This can be fun to do with your children for their grandmother.
• If your mother is no longer alive, adopt a mother for the day.
• Reach out to women who have touched your life and remind them of what they mean to you and that you love them.

Bonnie Across-generations, Holidays celebrate, grandmother, Mother's Day, traditions

My wish for you at every age is to

• Live each day fully.
• Stretch your body, mind and spirit.
• Embrace new experiences.
• Share your talents with others of all ages.
• Learn something new each day.
• Celebrate frequently.
• Seek the positive in each person and experience.
• Give thanks for the blessings of your life.
• Meet new challenges with a sense of adventure.
• Greet each new day with anticipation and zest.
• Become a living model of AgeEsteem for those who meet you!

Bonnie Across-generations, Holidays adventure, AgeEsteem, celebrate, New Year, zest

Babies and AgeEsteem

Celebrate Each Success

Celebrate each success: When Baby tries something new, even if she doesn’t succeed, you applaud her and celebrate.  You know that each new success builds on past efforts.  She begins to walk by trial and fall, and we cheer her each step of the way.

• Allow – and even encourage – yourself and others to test your abilities, make mistakes, and learn from them.
• Applaud errors as part of the learning process.
• Recognize and celebrate the smaller successes.  They are necessary building blocks to achieve your goals.

No, it’s never too early to model your own age-esteem for a child nor is  it ever too late to learn lessons of age-esteem from children!

Bonnie Life Stages - Ages age-esteem, building blocks, celebrate, success

Flaunt your age-esteem. Celebrate your birthday and create happy memories with friends.

Celebrate: Celebrate your birthday! There are many places in the world where reaching age 30 is still considered almost a miracle.

• Throw a party for yourself. It doesn’t have to be costly. Invite each friend to bring part of the meal, or make pancakes or spaghetti. Ask people to wear their favorite hat or shoes.
• Focus the party on your guests. Prepare something for them: a limerick, song, dance or story album with their photos. Ask each person to share their favorite birthday memory.

Bonnie A Major Birthday birthday, celebrate, turning 30