Posts Tagged ‘ parent ’

Sweet Caroline | Good Times Never Seemed So Good

Sweet Caroline | Good Times Never Seemed So Good

The AP reported the good times never seemed so good for Neil Diamond. Neil Diamond will be honored with Broadway singer Barbara Cook, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, saxophonist Sonny Rollins, and actress Meryl Streep for their contributions to American culture through the arts. I smiled fondly reading the article. Carolyn would have been ecstatic about the news! She was the biggest Neil Diamond fan I ever knew. My mother in law – Carolyn – simply adored Neil Diamond. In fact, back in 2008 when she found out Neil was performing in Tampa, she pitched an “I’ll buy, you fly” deal to me. You see, traffic and the never-ending roadwork in Florida make driving  for seniors difficult and frightening. There was simply no way I would refuse this dear 70 year old woman the opportunity. It was early spring when we bought the tickets. Level one directly across from the stage about 10 rows up were the best tickets I could get. She...

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Upromise College Rewards Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Upromise College Rewards Celebrates 10th Anniversary

This post brought to you by UPromise. All opinions are 100% mine. Midlife has brought about a new lifestyle, qualifying me for The Sandwich Generation inclusion. Yes, I am included in the ever-growing generation who simultaneously care for parents and children. This cultural shift in combination with the horrible economy nearly made college unattainable for my youngest son, which brings me to share a bit about Upromise. Upromise is a reward program that can help parents pay for college. This month Upromise is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in a big way! Hard to believe I have been a member for ten years. Upromise Dream Sweepstakes To celebrate the Upromise 10th anniversary they are giving away $20,000 to users who share their story. Parents can participate in the sweepstakes by sharing how they supported a child’s dream! Users can vote on their favorite stories by “liking” them. Upromise is giving 10 winners $1000.00 and a grand prizewinner $10,000.00. With nothing...

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Is the Social Media Landscape Influencing your Family?

Is the Social Media Landscape Influencing your Family?

Social media seems to be just about everywhere these days. Whereas people used to stand next to their friends and chat with them, now they’re deciding how many of the ten different bands on Myspace they want to allow to friend them. And how long has it been since people sent their messages through a phone, using that antique thing people used to call “their voice?” These are just the possible musings of people who predate the current fixation with social media and excessive reliance on technology. Let’s take a look at some of the new realities that social media is imposing on family life. Consider how about only ten years or so ago, kids used to beg their parents for cell phones. Do not feel old if you can remember when they used to beg for pagers – that was only 20 years ago. But now, it seems like the latest smart phone grows out of a child’s...

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TracFone Product Review

TracFone Product Review

Parents looking for an inexpensive alternative to a monthly cell phone bill will find the answer with TracFone. One of the least expensive cell phones in America, TracFone requires no contracts, credit checks, activation, and/or cancelation fees.

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Follow Friday|40 and Over Top Midlife Blogs #7

Follow Friday|40 and Over Top Midlife Blogs #7

Today would have been my mother’s 80th birthday. She passed away in 1999, re-occurring breast cancer. It’s hard to imagine that twelve years have passed. Reaching midlife has not changed how much I miss her nor has the empty space in my life dissipated. My sister claims even now I was forever changed by the whole ordeal surrounding her death. My mother was a fabulous cook, avid golfer, and a superb mother. In fact, she was a mom to more than only her natural children. Plenty of friends and family were waiting to occupy our vacant rooms. Dad compared this to a boarding house and often wondered who would be moving in next. Mom would simply smile. Anyone who knew my mother would speak first of the Italian meals she prepared, followed by her funny laugh that was extremely contagious. You know, one of those genuine happy and giggly kinds of laughs. According to the hubby, Mom’s laugh was...

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July is Sandwich Generation Month

July is Sandwich Generation Month

July is always associated with our day of independence here in the USA. According to holiday insights, daily July tributes include Cousins and Parents Day on July 24, with the 26th being Aunt and Uncle Day and the 30th sharing cheesecakes and father in laws! Did you know the month of July is registered with the National Special Events Registry as Sandwich Generation Month? Source: Holiday Insights Sandwich Generation Facts The Sandwich Generation is a generation of people who are caring for their aging parents while supporting their own children.  AARP, the Pew Research Center, and The Gauardian.Uk agree the numbers are staggering. “According to the Pew Research Center, just over 1 of every 8 Americans aged 40 to 60 is both raising a child and caring for a parent. In addition, between 7 to 10 million adults are caring for their aging parents from a long distance. The US Census Bureau statistics indicate that the population of older Americans...

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Safe Driving for Seniors | Dad Can’t Drive 55

Look to experts for advice if you happen to be the midlife child responsible for relinquishing a parent’s driving privileges. In many cases knowing one can drive is worth more than actually driving. I learned the magnitude of this senior driving theory firsthand as this was the case with my father. Signs of Driving Deterioration I noticed Dad’s outings becoming less and less. After living with us for about seven months, I noticed his trips to the store were reduced to maybe once every three weeks. He began to encourage me to drive his car rather than my own. Admittedly, I was rather relieved that his driving was less. I had ridden with him many times. He hugged the white line, drove with two feet, and didn’t notice traffic signs until he was upon them. I felt his vision and motor skills were not sufficient for safe driving not to mention his memory and hearing deterioration. In fact, with every trip...

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