by Marlene Bumgarner | Apr 5, 2017 | Child development, Community, Cooking and Eating, Family, Grandparenting
Planning an Egg Hunt for Littles In the Christian tradition, Easter is the symbol of renewal. I embrace Easter traditions as a way to help me emerge from the lethargy of winter. Four years ago I created a space for tiny flowers and fairies in my back garden, and...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Mar 3, 2017 | Aging, Child development, Community, Family, Grandparenting
A New Role for Grandma Since New Years’ Eve 2016 I have been in San Diego, living with my son and daughter-in-law and caring for their first child, my youngest granddaughter, while they work. Meeting the needs of an infant is taxing physically and emotionally. ...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 28, 2016 | Child development, Community, Cooking and Eating, Family, Grandparenting
Make a Gratitude Tree Next Thanksgiving At our family Thanksgiving gathering we made a Gratitude Tree. Earlier in the day my five year old granddaughter had painted the trunk of the tree on a piece of poster paper I had rolled up and carried to San Diego in my...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Nov 16, 2016 | Aging, Community, Cooking and Eating, Family
I’m feeling a bit stretched right now, as I suspect many of you are. Between the after-election malaise and the annoyance of Christmas carols before we’ve even celebrated Thanksgiving, I feel the need for some down time. Thus, no regular post this week....
by Marlene Bumgarner | Oct 11, 2016 | Aging, Child development, Community, Family, Good Reads, Grandparenting
A Different Way to Check out Books One long hot day last summer Bean and I were tired of being inside the house and decided to go for a walk. I regretted our decision as soon as the hot moist heat hit my face, but Bean was scootering happily down the street so I...
by Marlene Bumgarner | Oct 3, 2016 | Aging, Community, Family, Grandparenting, Health
A week in the life of this Grandmother . . . Last week was very busy. Two weeks earlier I had embarked on the creation of a support group for grandparents, some of whom had relocated as I did, to help take care of their grandchildren. Monday night, as I worked on the...