February 26, 2015

Here and Now: February 26, 2015

February 26, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

The second edition of my new Here and Now feature...

here and now grandma's briefs

On my mind...

Why can I recall every single word of songs from my youth that I now hear only once a year or so yet simply CANNOT get down the lyrics of current hits I hear on the radio at least once a day? Is it age? Is it because...

February 19, 2015

Here and Now: February 19, 2015

February 19, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

My friend Lois, blogger extraordinaire at Midlife At The Oasis, recently started a new feature on her site, called currently. Because I think it's a nifty idea for a feature—and because I'm a copycat—I'm going to do something similar every Thursday here on Grandma's Briefs.

With that in mind, welcome to my first "Here and Now" feature in which I share with you what's happening in my life right here and now. I hope in the comments you'll share a bit of what's happening in yours.

here and now graphic

On my mind...

Like everyone else...

February 18, 2015

Feels like the first time: The joy of snow

February 18, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

Many Grandma's Briefs readers are experiencing snow fatigue like never before. This one's for you, my frozen friends.

babies and snow

Though I can't make the snow disappear, my hope is that this...

February 10, 2015

10 life lessons grandchildren help us remember

February 10, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

With all that we do for our grandchildren, they do for us so very much more. Things such as reminding us of important lessons we've learned yet often forget to put into practice. Things such as these.

grandchildren quotes

February 05, 2015

Musing elsewhere: When a teen mom hits midlife

February 05, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

In the summer of 1982, I graduated from high school, got married, turned 18, and had a baby. I went from kid to wife and mother in the span of three months, just like that.

teen mom and baby

My husband was 21 at the time. Now, 33 years later, we're empty-nesters. We've patted ourselves on the back for a job well done. We beat the odds and raised three lovely and amazing daughters from diapers to dorm rooms and into the real world. Our journey featured little outside the typical bumps, bruises and pains of parenthood, despite the fact that we were mere children ourselves at the outset. Our girls are grown and gone—one has even made us grandparents.

Time to rejoice! Time to enjoy midlife!

Time for an unexpected reality check, is more like it.

Once my kids split and I recovered from the initial empty-nest jitters, it became clear that having been a teen mother would...Click here to continue reading my article published on PurpleClover.com.

January 27, 2015

On life and not just getting through

January 27, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

peaceful

Not long ago, I realized I repeat myself. Again and again and again. The same phrase.

Lest you think I’ve developed a tic, let me explain.

Mid-summer last year, I faced some medical challenges. Despite the distress, I still had to maintain my home, my family, my connections, and — most time-consuming of all — my freelance job (you don’t work, you don’t get paid). I began noticing I’d accomplish each...

January 14, 2015

Once more through my mother-in-law's window

January 14, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

"Think for a minute, darling: in fairy tales it's always the children who have the fine adventures. The mothers have to stay at home and wait for the children to fly in the window."
― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife