What I Want My Granddaughter To Know

My granddaughter is such a smart and kind young lady. At 12 years old, she is very mature and easy to talk with. Yet I worry about her. Girls her age are so fragile. They are just learning to express themselves. At that age, it seems you learn everything through trial and error. You can't just read a book and have it all figured out.

I hope that she'll be able to recognize and build healthy relationships with her classmates and avoid those who don't respect her or her emotions. I want her to own her mistakes and accept constructive criticism without losing her confidence and ambitions. I'd like her to be a leader rather than a follower.

What Ever Happened to Manners and Etiquette?

While people-watching in a local bar last night, I suddenly realized there are no rules anymore. People don't know how to eat with their mouths closed, talk without food in their mouths, how to sit properly, how to hold a knife and fork, or even have basic consideration for the people at the next table.
It's not that I expect things never to change over time, but some things should never be thought "acceptable" as far as I'm concerned. We could blame the media, of course, since television shows and movies over-exaggerate bad behavior to get laughs - but why do kids feel the need to emulate these things - does it make them feel like movie stars or something?

Aspirations of Being a Grandma....

As a little girl, I always loved and admired my grandmothers. Not only were they the only babysitters we youngest grandchildren knew (not including our older brothers/sisters), they baked and played games and went for walks with us whenever we were with them. They seemed to be content with their lives and enjoy teaching us how to do some of the every day chores that needed to be done in a way that didn't make it seem like work.