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Rod Stewart’s second grandchild in just three days!

<p>It’s been an exciting week for British icon Rod Stewart as he’s been blessed with a second grandchild just three days after the <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/rod-stewart-s-son-gives-touching-nod-to-dad-in-new-baby-s-name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">birth of his grandson</a> Louie.</p> <p>The singer’s daughter has just welcomed a baby boy into the world.</p> <p>Ruby, 35, is the rocker’s daughter, who he shares with ex Kelly Emberg.</p> <p>The new mum announced the news on Instagram, revealing she and fiancé Jake Kalick had welcomed a boy named Otis Stewart Kalick.</p> <p>"This love… unlike any other love I've ever known," Ruby wrote alongside a sweet series of snaps of her new bub.</p> <p>"I am only a mirror of what I feel from you… I can't remember what life was like before you…. But nothing else matters now that you're here… Your arrival into the world marks the beginning of our family… it all started with you Otis."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsOr_dCM6XX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsOr_dCM6XX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 𝐑 𝐔 𝐁 𝐘 𝐒 𝐓 𝐄 𝐖 𝐀 𝐑 𝐓 (@rubystewart)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ruby’s sister Renee Stewart commented, “Love you so much… can’t wait to meet you Otis! Aunty Nay Nay x”</p> <p>While the singer's ex-wife Rachel Hunter wrote, “Beautiful. Love you"</p> <p>Ruby announced the exciting news on Mother’s Day after the arrival of Otis on May 9.</p> <p>Kalick also took to Instagram to share photos of his newborn, writing, "Otis Stewart Kalick showed up, 12 days late for his reservation, happy and healthy. Otis' Mom is incredible. Happy first Mother's Day <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rubystewart/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@rubystewart</a>."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsOwvtqLIFq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsOwvtqLIFq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jake Kalick (@itsjakeyouguys)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Stewart, 77, has eight children and Otis' birth marks his third grandchild.</p> <p>Ruby is Stewart’s only child with ex Emberg. The couple dated in the late 1980s and split in 1990.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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How grandchild proof is your home?

<p>We all have adventurous little ones in our life who are full of beans and personalities who love nothing more than to explore everywhere and anywhere. Is your home safe for these explorers?</p> <p>It’s a given: little ones can (and will!!!) climb and crawl anywhere and everywhere! Here we have a few helpful tips to ensure your home is a safe place for young children to explore explore!</p> <p>Did you know that accidental falls are among the most common types of injuries that are sustained in the home when it comes to children? Given this, you’ll want to make every effort to keep stairs and hallways clear and clutter-free to make room for your child to explore without tripping. It might also be a good idea to consider temporary fencing around stairways, steps and hallways. Safety gates at the top or bottom of stairs should be securely fastened to the wall and have a locked handle that can be used with one hand. These will prevent toddlers from climbing stairs unsupervised.</p> <p>As you all probably know, grandchildren love to climb, look at everything and pull on anything in their sight. To make sure spaces are as safe as possible, guard any hazards you can see when you look around the house. For instance, conceal window locks and blind cords from adventurous babies. Furthermore, ensure window, back doors and so on are locked</p> <p>Modern technology has many benefits and it’s a tool you can use to help with safeguarding your home. For example, place baby monitors around the home. Baby monitors can provide you peace of mind and now also connect to a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer allowing them to be managed through a wireless network for parents on the go.</p> <p>Lastly, many child safety products can be DIY installed and keep children safe from hazards such as sharp corners on drawers and tables, power points and stairs. Do a search on the internet or head to your local hardware store or places like Target or Kmart for budget-friendly options. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Video of Queen Elizabeth playing with first grandchild resurfaces

<p>Royal fans have gone wild over a resurfaced clip of the late Queen Elizabeth playing with her first grandchild when he was just a child. </p> <p>In honour of Peter Phillips' 45th birthday, a royal fan account on Instagram shared the historic video of Her Majesty playing with Phillips in 1978. </p> <p>The video showed an intimate moment in the royal nursery at Buckingham Palace, as Princess Anne presented her son Peter to her mother, the Queen.</p> <p>As the mother and daughter sat on a floral patterned sofa, they were joined by one of the Queen's many dogs - which seemed to delight the one-year-old Peter as he gurgled and smiled.</p> <p>Meanwhile his grandmother, the Queen, could be seen smiling down at him.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ck-rLguIkp6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ck-rLguIkp6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Windsor Royal Family (@windsor.royal.family)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The clip was shared to Instagram with the caption, "Happy 45th birthday to Peter Phillips."</p> <p>"Queen Elizabeth II with her daughter, The Princess Royal and grandson, 13 months old Peter at Buckingham Palace in December 1978."</p> <p>The video has racked up over 10,000 likes, with a flood of comments praising the late Queen for always being a doting grandmother. </p> <p>One person wrote, "The Queen was such a sweet grandmother."</p> <p>Another royal fan said, "Wonderful. Her first grandchild. She looks so happy. Missing our Queen so much."</p> <p>"I love how much the Queen loved her dogs, let them on her furniture, loved her grandbabies and taught them about loving pets too," said a third.</p> <p>"You can tell so much about people who are kind to animals. God bless beautiful Queen Elizabeth. Happy Birthday Peter Phillips."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Grandma gives birth to her own grandchild

<p dir="ltr">While it might be her fifth time welcoming a grandchild, the way this US woman has done so is a first for her and her family.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nancy Hauck gave birth to her granddaughter Hannah last week, according to the <em>New York Post</em>, and did so for a special reason.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 56-year-old from Utah offered to be a surrogate for her son Jeff and his wife Cambria after her daughter-in-law experienced a traumatic birth and underwent a life-saving hysterectomy.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to <a href="https://people.com/human-interest/utah-grandmother-gives-birth-son-daughter-in-law-baby-feeling-so-blessed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>People</em></a> magazine, Ms Hauck said giving birth to her granddaughter “went perfectly” and that they are feeling “so blessed to have her in our family”.</p> <p dir="ltr">She said the nine-hour labour was a “remarkable and spiritual experience”, but admitted to feeling “some sadness” since the birth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Even though I know that the baby’s going to my son, I know there’ll be a little bit of that empty feeling,” she said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8b8cb539-7fff-98da-9dd5-146942999604"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Now, the grandmother plans to take a break from work and write a book about her experience.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkihR3cMu-0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkihR3cMu-0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Cambria Hauck (@cambriairene)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Her son and daughter-in-law were high school sweethearts and always knew they wanted a big family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“From the time I was a teenager, I knew that if I could only be one thing, I wanted to be a dad,” Jeff told <em>People</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We always had in our mind that we wanted four to six — whatever the Lord would bless us with, is what we would always say," Cambria added.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the couple struggled to fall pregnant for six years before having two sets of twins, four-year-old Vera and Ayva and 13-month-old Diesel and Luca, through IVF.</p> <p dir="ltr">After giving birth the second time in 2021, Cambria was advised to have a hysterectomy and was unable to safely carry more children - which is when Ms Hauck stepped in.</p> <p dir="ltr">Starting hormone treatments in January this year, Ms Hauck injected herself every day for 12 weeks with the help of her husband Jason.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e9b25e37-7fff-f21e-015b-b8223b6704d8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">A month later, a fertilised embryo created by Jeff and Cambria through IVF was transferred to Ms Hauck and she became pregnant with her grandchild.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgvWEb_LtM2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgvWEb_LtM2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Cambria Hauck (@cambriairene)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">According to the couple, baby Hannah’s name has a special meaning and is a tribute to her grandmother.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jeff said that six days after the transfer, when his mother tested positive on a pregnancy test, she was “woken up in the middle of the night, and she heard a little voice that said, ‘My name is Hannah’”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Hauck was also convinced her grandchild was a girl even before testing, and soon convinced Jeff and Cambria as well.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cambria explained that they discovered that “the name Nancy comes from Hannah” and that “they both mean grace”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I knew instantly that that was her name,” the 30-year-old added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since Hannah’s birth, Ms Hauck and her husband have been adjusting to the idea of being her grandparents.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I hope that we won’t treat Hannah any differently,” Jason said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But we’ll always have that connection — that Nancy carried her for nine months. Just the magic of the whole experience will always be unique in our eyes.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Hauck added that she wants all of her grandchildren to know that they’re equally loved and she “would’ve done it for any of them”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fa4cd013-7fff-2175-632c-b33d2ecaa8ce"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @cambriairene (Instagram)</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Woman welcomes 100th great-grandchild ahead of her 100th birthday

<p dir="ltr">A 99-year-old woman has celebrated her 100th birthday early, with the arrival of her 100th great-grandchild. </p> <p dir="ltr">Marguerite Koller, from Pennsylvania in the US, will be celebrating becoming a centenarian in the coming months. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, Marguerite and her family are marking the occasion early with the birth of her 100th great-grandchild, Koller William, named after her late husband. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm just thinking how lucky I am,” Marguerite told <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/montgomery-county-woman-100th-great-grandchild/3331133/">NBC Philadelphia</a> as she held the newest addition to the family, which also includes 11 children and 56 grandchildren.</p> <p dir="ltr">She makes the effort to be there for every baptism and graduation, her family has said in the past, and “has created an amazing legacy spanning through generations,” her granddaughter, Christine Balster, told the local news station.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Marguerite’s large family almost didn’t happen, as she planned to join a convent and become a nun. </p> <p dir="ltr">She applied to join the local convent when she was a junior in high school, she told <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/montgomery-county-woman-100th-great-grandchild/3331133/">6 ABC</a> back in 2015, but by the early 1940s, she met William Koller, who she said “talked me out of it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple then welcomed their first child in the Baby Boom after World War II, when Marguerite knew she wanted to have a large family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I wanted to have a big family. I think it's difficult being an only child — it's lonely.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple went on to have 11 children over the span of almost 20 years. </p> <p dir="ltr">Their kids then had a total of 56 grandchildren, who are now the parents of 100 great-grandchildren. </p> <p dir="ltr">She has since credited that big family with keeping her active, and making her feel blessed every holiday even after her husband died in 2008.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It worked out beautifully,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Youtube - NBC Philadelphia</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Australian woman gives birth to own grandchild

<p dir="ltr">54-year-old Tasmanian woman Maree Arnold has given birth to her own grandson after acting as a surrogate for her 28-year-old daughter Meagan White.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meagan has no uterus and was unable to conceive, so her mum suggested the idea of acting as a gestational carrier. Meagan was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome at the age of 17 after not menstruating during puberty. MRKH is a rare disorder that affects one in 5000 women, and the syndrome means that while Meagan has no uterus, she does have working ovaries, so she is able to have a biological child with the help of a surrogate.</p> <p dir="ltr">The baby, named Winston, was safely delivered following a short two-hour labour on January 13th. Ms Arnold told<span> </span><em>Sunrise</em>, “We arrived at the hospital at 7 am and by 9 am he was born, it was so quick and organised.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I feel really well considering it’s only been a week, so it’s amazing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Arnold, who had previously appeared on<span> </span><em>Sunrise<span> </span></em>last year while pregnant, told Kochie and Nat, “If I had my time again, I would do the same thing, it worked out perfectly.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms White said she was loving being a first-time mum to Winston, who is “not giving us too much grief” and sleeping well. Of his birth, she said, “It’s hard to describe the feeling of when he was born. It was definitely a pinching myself moment.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Experts say mother-daughter surrogacy is very rare and it’s recommended that gestational carriers are under 40 years of age. However, another older mum, 51-year-old Julie Loving from Chicago,<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/relationships-love/a33013266/mother-becomes-surrogate-for-daughter/" target="_blank">made headlines</a><span> </span>in 2020 after carrying her daughter’s baby.</p> <p dir="ltr">Loving volunteered after watching her daughter Breanna Lockwood struggle with fertility issues for four years. The family welcomed a daughter, Briar, in November 2020, with Lockwood writing on Instagram, “My mom was an absolute rockstar through a difficult delivery. The sacrifices she took to bring this little slice of heaven into our world takes my breath away. Holding my daughter in my arms my heart is bursting. The feeling of how I would do absolutely anything needed for this child is radiating through me when I look at her, and reflects back on what my mom did for me.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Channel 7</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Such wonderful news": Queen thrilled at birth of ninth great-grandchild

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>The Queen has expressed her delight at the birth of her ninth great-grandchild as Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank welcomed their first child, a boy, overnight.</p> <p>Buckingham Palace released the following statement on behalf of the Queen herself.</p> <p>"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of York, Sarah, Duchess of York, and Mr and Mrs George Brooksbank have been informed and are delighted with the news," it reads.</p> <p>"This is Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's first child, The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York's first grandchild, and the ninth great-grandchild for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."</p> <p>Princess Eugenie made the announcement with a sweet post on her Instagram.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFEI96lHW1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFEI96lHW1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Princess Eugenie's parents, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York are yet to publicly comment about the arrival of their first grandchild, but Ferguson liked the official announcement on social media.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to have privately congratulated the couple, but the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Beatrice are yet to comment publicly on the birth.</p> <p>There is no word yet as to what the baby will be named, as the royal family typically wait two days before publicly sharing a baby's name to the media.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

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Major warning signs your grandchild is a bully

<p>With one out of every four children getting bullied, it's a growing epidemic. But what if your child is the bully? Experts share the signs that indicate your child might be the one causing the trouble.</p> <p><strong>They justify bad behaviour</strong></p> <p>Bullies may attempt to shift blame to the victim rather than themselves. Licensed professional counsellor Jay Clark says a behaviour that tends to correlate with bullying is when a child fails to recognise their actions may be contributing to a problem. Emotions may quickly escalate in intensity in a child with bullying tendencies, and they feel justified in treating another child badly. They may feel the other child ‘has it coming’.</p> <p><strong>They have friends who act aggressively</strong></p> <p>Children who bully often don’t have a shortage of friends. In reality, they usually have a large network of friends and a smaller, intimate group that encourages bullying behaviour, according to the Pacer Centre. No parent wants to find out their child is ill-behaved towards other students. However, if your child’s friends are mean towards other kids, or if they engage in some other type of bullying, your child might be participating in bullying as well.</p> <p><strong>They have difficulty sleeping</strong></p> <p>A 2011 study by the University of Michigan, published in the <em>Sleep Medicine</em> journal, revealed children with aggressive or bullying tendencies were twice as likely to exhibit sleep-disordered breathing problems like snoring or daytime sleepiness. While this study doesn’t prove sleep disorders actually cause bullying, it does show a possible link between sleep problems and contentious behaviour. A lack of sleep impairs mood and decision-making. If you think your child has sleep issues, a visit to the doctor might be a beneficial step to curb potential bullying.</p> <p><strong>They get in trouble at school</strong></p> <p>When Tori Cody received a call from the assistant director of her son’s preschool telling her she needed to talk to her son because he was “messing” with another boy, she felt shocked, saddened and embarrassed. “How could my four-year-old be a bully?” she asked. Realising she needed to take his aggressive behaviour seriously, she sprang into action. She began frequent talks with her son challenging him to consider how he would feel if someone behaved towards him in the same manner he behaved towards his classmate. Though it’s a work in progress, Cody has seen an improvement in her son’s actions at school.</p> <p><strong>They have behavioural problems</strong></p> <p>“Certain behaviours, if elevated, tend to correlate with bullying,” says Clark. Children who are hot-tempered, easily frustrated, impulsive, prone to fighting, and lack empathy towards others have a higher risk of being bullies. Some children may even brag about handling conflict by fighting.</p> <p><strong>They live in a violent home</strong></p> <p>If a child is in a home where they’re seeing violence, or they too are victims of violent behaviour, they are more likely to react violently in pressure situations.  Frustration builds up in kids who experience violence, Clark says. When an explosion of anger is modelled in the home, similarly, they might be inclined to take out their own anger on other children.</p> <p><strong>They have experienced bullying first-hand</strong></p> <p>Occasionally, children who have been the target of bullying will become bullies in an effort to regain some control over their lives. This was the case for Mischa van Loder, whose seven-year-old daughter began getting in trouble after she was the victim. Van Loder credits encouraging her daughter into friendship groups with positive role models as a key to curtailing her daughter’s behaviour. “Parental presence is everything in this situation,” she says. “Without support, love and lots of investigation, the problem is difficult to solve.”</p> <p><strong>They act aggressively towards their siblings</strong></p> <p>Clark suggests if you have more than one child, monitor how they’re treating the other siblings. If they display aggression towards their siblings, it’s likely they may also demonstrate aggression towards their peers.</p> <p><strong>They spend a lot of time online</strong></p> <p>With cyberbullying on the rise, Clark cautions parents to monitor their child’s internet use. There’s a level of anonymity that occurs online, allowing children to say things they might not otherwise say to another child face-to-face.</p> <p><strong>They’re intolerant towards children who are different</strong></p> <p>Licensed clinical social worker Carmen Berzinski says some children she works with show a lack of ability or willingness to accept kids who are different (diverse ethnic backgrounds, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation, etc). In an attempt to exert some control over these differences, a bully might engage in name-calling, sending harsh messages via text or social media, and fighting. For parents, Berzinki has this advice, “Nurture empathy and create opportunities for your child to do good. Reward your child for the positive steps forward they take.”</p> <p>Written by  Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio. This article first appeared in Reader’s Digest. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="https://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Caring

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Grandma bans grandchild, 5, from visiting her home

<p>A shocked mum has lashed out at her husband’s family after the grandmother banned their five-year-old daughter from visiting.</p> <p>The reason for the ban is due to a nickname given to the grandchild by the grandmother.</p> <p>The couple’s daughter is named Collette, but her mother-in-law has given her a nickname called “Letters”.</p> <p>Mum admits that “it’s not the greatest nickname in the world”, but it hasn’t been a problem until now.</p> <p>Her daughter recently asked her mum why grandma calls her letters.</p> <p>“Why does grandma call me letters? My name is Colette," she said.</p> <p>Mum explained that it was a nickname, but Colette quickly decided that it was weird and didn’t like it being used.</p> <p>Mum took charge and politely said to Colette that she can asked to be called by her name if she doesn’t like the nickname.</p> <p>Shortly after the exchange, her husband took their daughter Colette to visit his family, but received an angry phone call from her mother-in-law after the visit.</p> <p>"She tells me that it was really rude for Colette to say she didn't like her nickname and that I shouldn't have told her to say that,” the mum explained.</p> <p>"She said I was raising her to be bratty. She also said that Colette couldn't come over until she apologised and says that she likes being called Letters."</p> <p>"That last part p***ed me off. I told her 'what the f***? You're banning a five-year-old from your house for not liking a stupid nickname'. Then I hung up on her."</p> <p>Asking if she had overreacted to what happened, one Reddit user was quick to defend her daughter’s choice.</p> <p>"Good for you for teaching your daughter to stand up for herself and for doubling down by standing up for her. MIL needs to apologise to the 5-year old for not respecting her name request,” one commenter said.</p> <p>A second commented: "Your daughter is being more mature than her."</p> <p>"I’m honestly just sort of in disbelief your mother-in-law could be old enough to be a grandma and act like that,” a third commenter said.</p>

Relationships

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5 tips to help ease your grandchild back into school mode after the holidays

<p>Most children in Australia are going back to school in just over a week. Children experience a <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/children-australia/article/selfreported-perceptions-readiness-and-psychological-wellbeing-of-primary-school-students-prior-to-transitioning-to-a-secondary-boarding-school/C86DEA7A6CD20AAF29C26C6947A01F7E">mix of emotions</a> when it comes to going to school.</p> <p>Easing back after the holidays can range from feeling really excited and eager to concern, fear or anxiety. Getting butterflies or general worry about going back to school is <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/school-stress.html">common</a>.</p> <p>Among the <a href="https://media.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/ch2-outline.pdf">biggest worries of preschool children</a> are feeling left out, being teased or saying goodbye to their caregiver at drop off. Concerns of <a href="https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/childline-annual-review/">school-aged children are about </a> exams (27%), not wanting to return to school (13%), and problems with teachers (14%). Some feel lonely and isolated.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/publications/youth-survey/1326-mission-australia-youth-survey-report-2019/file">main concerns</a> for teens are coping with stress (44.7%), school or study problems (34.3%) and mental health (33.2%).</p> <p>Not thinking about school until it is time to go back is one way to enjoy the last week of holidays. But for some, this can make going back to school more difficult.</p> <p>Supporting parents, children and young people with back-to-school challenges can help reduce negative school experiences using the below steps.</p> <p><strong>1. Set up a back-to-school routine</strong></p> <p>Create structure about going back with a <a href="https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/age-6-12/mental-health-conditions-in-children/anxiety/tackling-back-to-school-anxiety">school routine</a>. Be guided by your knowledge and history of what best supports your child during times of change and transition.</p> <p><a href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/school-homework-tips/morning-routine-for-school">Set up a practical chart of getting ready</a>. You could include:</p> <ul> <li>what needs to be done each day for school like getting up, eating breakfast, dressing</li> <li>what help does your child need from you to get ready?</li> <li>what they can do on their own? (Establish these together).</li> </ul> <p>The first week back can cause disruption from being in holiday mode so don’t forget <a href="https://childmind.org/article/encouraging-good-sleep-habits/">healthy habits around sleep</a> (<a href="https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/physical-activity-exercise-sleep-screen-time-kids-teens">around 9-11 hours for children aged 5-13</a> and 8-10 hours for those aged 14-17), <a href="https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines#npa517">exercise</a> (around <a href="https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines#npa517">one hour per day</a> of moderate to vigorous physical activity <a href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/nutrition-fitness/physical-activity/physical-activity-how-much">three times a week</a>) and <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-and-your-life-stages">diet</a>.</p> <p>Having <a href="https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines#npa517">consistent bed and wake-up </a> times helps too. The National Sleep Foundation <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/plan-ahead-start-back-school-bedtime-routines-now">suggest starting two weeks</a> before the first day of school to set sleep routine habits. But a week beforehand will help get your kid on their way.</p> <p>In some way, parents go back to school with their children. Consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If you can’t in the mornings, arrange the evenings so you can give as much time as your child needs, especially during the first week.</p> <p><strong>2. Talk about going back to school</strong></p> <p>Most children deal with some level of stress or anxiety about school. They have insight into their school experiences, so find out what worries them by asking directly.</p> <p>You can offer support by normalising experiences of worry and nerves. <a href="https://www.heysigmund.com/how-to-deal-with-school-anxiety-no-more-distressing-goodbyes/">Reassure your child</a> the feelings they have are common and they will likely overcome them once they have settled in. Worries and courage can exist together.</p> <p>Depending on your child’s age, you can also try the following to help:</p> <ul> <li>early years/pre-school – write <a href="https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2018/08/free-social-stories-about-going-to-school.html">a social story </a> about going to daycare or school and the routine ahead</li> <li>primary years – set up a <a href="https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/professionals/learning/trkpp6.pdf">peer-buddy system</a> where a peer or older child meets yours at the school gate or, if neighbours, kids can go into school together</li> <li>secondary years – establish healthy routines as a family. Support each other around <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-parents-and-teens-can-reduce-the-impact-of-social-media-on-youth-well-being-87619">technology</a> use, sleep and <a href="https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/tips-starting-school.aspx">schoolwork</a>.</li> </ul> <p><strong>3. Help create a sense of school belonging</strong></p> <p>A sense of belonging at school <a href="https://theconversation.com/many-australian-school-students-feel-they-dont-belong-in-school-new-research-97866">can affect</a> academic success and student well-being. Parents can facilitate positive attitudes about school by setting an encouraging tone when talking about it.</p> <p>Also show an interest in school life and work, and be available to support your child both <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10648-016-9389-8">academically and socially</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/kids-and-stress/20150827/stress-survey">More than half of the parents in one survey</a> said homework and schoolwork were the greatest drivers of stress in their children. When parents are more engaged in their child’s schoolwork, they are better able to support them through it.</p> <p><strong>4. Look out for signs of stress</strong></p> <p>Research suggests <a href="https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/kids-and-stress/20150827/stress-survey">parents can miss stress or anxiety</a> in their children. Parents can spot stress if their child (depending on age):</p> <ul> <li>is more clingy than usual or tries escape from the classroom</li> <li>appears restless and flighty or cries</li> <li>shows an increased desire to avoid activities through negotiations and deal-making</li> <li>tries to get out of going to school</li> <li>retreats to thumb sucking, baby language or increased attachment to favourite soft toys (for younger students).</li> </ul> <p>If these behaviours persist for about half a term, talk to your classroom teacher or school well-being coordinator about what is happening. Together work on a strategy of support. There may be something more going on than usual school nerves, like <a href="https://lens.monash.edu/@christine-grove/2018/01/18/1299375/no-one-size-fits-all-approach-in-tackling-cyberbullying">bullying</a>.</p> <p><strong>5. Encourage questions</strong></p> <p>Encourage questions children and teens may have about the next term. What will be the same? What will be different?</p> <p>Often schools provide transition information. If the school hasn’t, it might be worth contacting them to see if they can share any resources.</p> <p>Most importantly, let your child know nothing is off limits to talk about. <a href="https://www.heysigmund.com/school-anxiety-what-parents-can-do/">Set up times to chat</a> throughout the school term – it can help with back-to-school nerves.</p> <p><em>Written by Christine Grové and Kelly-Ann Allen. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/5-tips-to-help-ease-your-child-back-into-school-mode-after-the-holidays-129780">The Conversation.</a></em></p>

Art

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Queen's favourite grandchild revealed – and it's not who you think it is

<p>A majority of grandparents will never admit it, but they have a favourite grandchild. It’s often a point of joking and ribbing amongst the grandchildren who’s the favourite, and it appears that this also extends to the royal family.</p> <p>The Queen is reported to have favourite grandchildren, and no, it’s not who you think it is.</p> <p>If you were thinking Prince Harry or Prince William, they might’ve captured the hearts of the world, but the heart of their grandmother remains elusive.</p> <p>An insider source has told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9853409/queen-favourite-grandkid-lady-louise-windsor-prince-william-harry/" target="_blank">The Sun</a></em><span> </span>that the royal grandmother has been getting very close with her grandchildren over the summer.</p> <p>In particular, she has been spending a lot of time with the children of her youngest son Edward, who are 16-year-old Lady Louise Windsor and 11-year-old James.</p> <p>Louise and the Queen have been bonding over Louise’s love of drawing, which is said to be a love of the late Queen mother.</p> <p>"Louise loves drawing and sketching and was very patiently trying to get Charlotte to do pictures of rabbits and deer," the insider said.</p> <p>"Because of her obvious artistic skill, the Queen allowed Louise to look through some of the collection of Queen Victoria's Highlands sketches which are kept at Balmoral but are rarely dug out these days."</p> <p>Her Majesty has eight grandchildren in total. Scroll through the gallery to see her spending time with each of them.</p>

Retirement Life

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"Absolutely thrilled": The Queen "beaming" when asked about her new great-grandchild

<p>Members of the Royal Family are “absolutely thrilled” about the birth of Baby Sussex.</p> <p>Despite Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla being in Germany, that hasn’t stopped him from being thrilled about his new grandson.</p> <p>According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2019050772770/prince-charles-royal-baby-joy-germany-visit/?utm_source=(direct)&amp;utm_m" target="_blank"><em>Hello!</em></a> he told Angela Merkel once he landed that:</p> <p>“We couldn't be more delighted at the news and we're looking forward to meeting the baby when we return.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxLN2UdHwhG/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxLN2UdHwhG/" target="_blank">The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited Berlin today as part of a four-day visit to Germany. Their Royal Highnesses met with Her Excellency Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany, before The Prince of Wales laid a wreath at the Berlin Airlift Memorial. The Memorial honours the Allied forces who flew provisions into Germany during the Berlin blockade imposed by the Soviet Union in 1948. At Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, The Prince and The Duchess heard about its history from The Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, and had an opportunity to meet residents of the city. Tonight Their Royal Highnesses attended ‘The Queen’s Birthday Party’ at the British Ambassador’s Residence. Her Majesty marked her 93rd birthday on 21st April, and there is an event held annually at the Residence to mark the occasion. During a speech, The Prince said: “Today, we are so much more than simply neighbours: we are friends and natural partners, bound together by our common experience, mutual interests and shared values, and deeply invested in each other’s futures.” Follow @clarencehouse for more.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/theroyalfamily/" target="_blank"> The Royal Family</a> (@theroyalfamily) on May 7, 2019 at 1:47pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Queen was also very thrilled with the news, as she was asked how she felt about the royal family's addition while hosting an event at Windsor Castle.</p> <p>"Life is good for Your Majesty?" she was asked.</p> <p>The Queen smiled and replied: "Yes, thank you."</p> <p>"Congratulations. Another great-grandchild!" she was told.</p> <p>The Queen replied happily: "Yes, I know."</p> <p>She was then asked: "How many of them have you got now?" before replying "Eight."</p> <p>Buckingham Palace said on Monday that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were “delighted” at the news of the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby boy.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxK0ptQlcTL/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxK0ptQlcTL/" target="_blank">🏆⛵️ Thank you to everyone at the Cutty Sark who came out to greet The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they launched The King's Cup, which will raise awareness and funds for eight of The Duke and Duchess's Patronages! Visit the link in our bio or our IGTV channel to find out more.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on May 7, 2019 at 10:07am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Prince William sent his congratulations to the new family as well, welcoming his brother Prince Harry into a new society, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://news.sky.com/story/royal-baby-the-queen-leads-congratulations-to-meghan-and-harry-11713917" target="_blank"><em>Sky News</em></a>.</p> <p>"Obviously thrilled, absolutely thrilled, and obviously looking forward to seeing them in the next few days when things have quietened down,” Prince William joked.</p> <p>"I'm very pleased and glad to welcome my own brother into the sleep deprivation society that is parenting."</p> <p>Kate was quick to add her congratulations in as well, saying: "As William said, we're looking forward to meeting him and finding out what his name's going to be, so it's really exciting for both of them and we wish them all the best.</p> <p>"These next few weeks are always a bit daunting the first time round, so we wish them all the best."</p> <p>When Prince William was asked whether he had any words of wisdom for his younger brother, he replied:</p> <p>"Plenty of advice, plenty of advice, but no I wish him all the best and I hope the next few days they can settle down and enjoy having a newborn in their family and the joys that come with that."</p> <p>There’s no word as to what Baby Sussex will be named, but with a photo call expected as early as Wednesday UK time, time will tell. </p>

News

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How to watch a scary movie with your grandchild

<p>Many of us have a childhood memory of a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/5sjstb/whats_a_movie_that_traumatized_you_as_a_kid/">movie that gave us nightmares</a> and took us to a new level of fear. Maybe this happened by accident. Or maybe it happened because an adult guardian didn’t choose the right movie for your age.</p> <p>For me it was <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/">The Exorcist</a>. It was also the movie that frightened my mum when she was a youngster. She had warned me not to watch it. But I did. I then slept outside my parents’ room for months for fear of demonic possession.</p> <p>Parents often ask about the right age for “scary” movies. A useful resource is <a href="https://childrenandmedia.org.au/movie-reviews/">The Australian Council of Children and the Media</a>, which provides colour-coded age guides for movies rated by child development professionals.</p> <p>Let’s suppose, though, that you have made the decision to view a scary movie with your child. What are some good rules of thumb in managing this milestone in your child’s life?</p> <p><strong>Watch with a parent or a friend</strong></p> <p>Research into indirect experiences can help us understand what happens when a child watches a scary movie. Indirect fear experiences can involve <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18614263">watching someone else look afraid or hurt in a situation</a> or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882043/">verbal threats</a> (such as “the bogeyman with sharp teeth will come at midnight for children and eat them”).</p> <p>Children depend very much on indirect experiences for information about danger in the world. Scary movies are the perfect example of these experiences. Fortunately, research also shows that indirectly acquired fears can be reduced by two very powerful sources of information: parents and peers.</p> <p>In one of our recent studies, we showed that when we <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28531872">paired happy adult faces with a scary situation</a>, children showed greater fear reduction than if they experienced that situation on their own. This suggests that by modelling calm and unfazed behaviour, or potentially even expressing enjoyment about being scared during a movie (notice how people burst into laughter after a jump scare at theatres?), parents may help children be less fearful.</p> <p>There is also some evidence that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3189411/">discussions with friends can help reduce fear</a>. That said, it’s important to remember that children tend to become <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27585485">more similar to each other in threat evaluation after discussing a scary or ambiguous event with a close friend</a>. So it might be helpful to discuss a scary movie with a good friend who enjoys such movies and can help the child discuss their worries in a positive manner.</p> <p><strong>Get the facts</strong></p> <p>How a parent discusses the movie with their child is also important. Children do not have enough experience to understand the statistical probability of dangerous events occurring in the world depicted on screen. For example, after watching Jaws, a child might assume that shark attacks are frequent and occur on every beach.</p> <p>Children need help to contextualise the things they see in movies. One way of discussing shark fears after viewing Jaws might be to help your child investigate the <a href="https://www.thewildlifemuseum.org/exhibits/sharks/odds-of-a-shark-attack/">statistics around shark attacks</a> (the risk of being attacked is around 1 in 3.7 million) and to acquire facts about shark behaviours (such as that they generally do not hunt humans).</p> <p>These techniques are the basis of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/in-practice/201301/cognitive-restructuring">cognitive restructuring</a>, which encourages fact-finding rather than catastrophic thoughts to inform our fears. It is also an evidence-based technique for managing excessive anxiety in children and adults.</p> <p><strong>Exposure therapy</strong></p> <p>If your child is distressed by a movie, a natural reaction is to prevent them watching it again. I had this unfortunate experience when my seven-year-old daughter accidentally viewed <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935859/">Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children</a>, which featured a monster with knives for limbs who ate children’s eyeballs for recreation.</p> <p>My first instinct was to prevent my daughter watching the movie again. However, one of the most effective ways of reducing excessive and unrealistic fear is to confront it again and again until that fear diminishes into boredom. This is called <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-virtual-reality-spiders-are-helping-people-face-their-arachnophobia-73769">exposure therapy</a>.</p> <p>To that end, we subjected her and ourselves to the same movie repeatedly while modelling calm and some hilarity - until she was bored. We muted the sound and did silly voice-overs and fart noises for the monster. We drew pictures of him with a moustache and in a pair of undies. Thankfully, she no longer identifies this movie as one that traumatised her.</p> <p>This strategy is difficult to execute because it requires tolerating your child’s distress. In fact, <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2016-23260-001">it is a technique that is the least used by mental health professionals</a> because of this.</p> <p>However, when done well and with adequate support (you may need an experienced psychologist if you are not confident), it is one of the most effective techniques for reducing fear following a scary event like an accidental horror movie.</p> <p><strong>Fear is normal</strong></p> <p>Did I ever overcome my fear of The Exorcist? It took my mother checking my bed, laughing with me about the movie, and re-affirming that being scared is okay and normal for me to do so (well done mum!)</p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/you-cant-erase-bad-memories-but-you-can-learn-ways-to-cope-with-them-103161">Fear is a normal and adaptive human response</a>. Some people, including children, love being scared. There is evidence that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30307264">volunteering to be scared can lead to a heightened sense of accomplishment</a> for some of us, because it provides us with a cognitive break from our daily stress and worries.</p> <p>Hopefully, you can help ensure that your child’s first scary movie experience is a memorable, enjoyable one.</p> <p><em>Written by Carol Newall. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-watch-a-scary-movie-with-your-child-105973">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Movies

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How you could be hurting your grandchild's future without even knowing

<p>The best part about being a grandparent is undoubtedly the ability to spend quality time with the young ones without all the responsibility that comes with parenthood. Despite this, there is one responsibility we all have when it comes to the children in our lives, and that’s watching what we say.</p> <p>Any little comment, no matter how well-intentioned, can be taken as a negative and may stay with the child all throughout their development. With this in mind, here are four things you should never say or do in front of them.</p> <p><strong>1. Making comparisons</strong></p> <p>As with your own children, you should never compare your grandchildren. One might be more academic or sporty than the other, but they certainly don’t need reminding of it – chances are, they’re already pretty aware that they aren’t excelling at the same pace. If you’re going to praise one child, do it in such a way that doesn’t put the other(s) down. Remind them that book smarts or athletic achievements aren’t the be all and end all, and always help them try to see the best in themselves.</p> <p><strong>2. Giving them harmful nicknames</strong></p> <p>What you might think is a cute, innocent, playful nickname could be hurting your grandchild’s feelings without you even realising it. Any nickname or label that might refer to their physical appearance or intelligence level should be avoided, as it could stay with them for years, permanently damaging their self-esteem. And not only could names with negative connotations hurt their confidence, but they can also harm your relationship.</p> <p><strong>3. Leading by a bad example</strong></p> <p>Children pick up on every little thing we do and say. They learn so much from us, including how to deal with conflict and navigate difficult relationships. So, if you’ve been known to be a little combative when defending yourself against someone you disagree with, consider the impact this can have on the little one. Do you really want to teach them that physical violence or verbal abuse is the solution to life’s problems?</p> <p><strong>4. Playing favourites</strong></p> <p>Just like with your own children, no matter how guilty you might feel, it’s natural to feel closer to one grandchild over the other. However, this doesn’t mean you should treat them any differently to the others – i.e. giving them extra money at Christmas or not punishing them for something you would punish the others for. Such treatment can unsettle the family dynamics, causing one child to think they’re superior while the rest are left wondering, “what about me?”</p>

Family & Pets

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The funniest thing my grandchild ever said

<p>Kids are fascinating creatures. Everything is new to them, everything is exciting and they need to know the answer to every question. As a result, grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles hear some pretty interesting things come out of their little one’s mouth. A couple of months ago, we asked you, the Over60 community, to share the funniest thing you ever heard the children in your life say – and the responses were hilarious.</p> <p><strong>1. Brutal honesty</strong></p> <p>“I stayed with my three-year-old granddaughter for several weeks and she asked me what I was putting on my face in the morning. I told her it was moisturiser. She asked me why I used it, so I told her it was to protect me from the sun and ensure that my wrinkles didn't get any bigger. On a visit six months later, she was on my lap, staring lovingly at me, and then announced, ‘Your moisturiser isn't working, Nanna. You've got bigger wrinkles.’ Gotta love that honesty.” – Avis Tolcher.</p> <p><strong>2. Brightening a dark day</strong></p> <p>“We had just buried my husband and one grandson, 10 years old at the time, stood at the graveside, head on one side, came over to where I was standing and said, ‘Grandpa's okay… He's not knocking.’ Where he got that from I don't know, but it lightened the situation.” – Jean Clawson.</p> <p><strong>3. Comedian in the making</strong></p> <p>“When granddaughter was five and her twin baby brothers were due, we passed a building site with ‘Pete Construction’ signs. She pipes up from the back of the car saying, ‘We should name them that.’ I said, ‘What, Pete and Pete?’ and her response floored me – ‘No, Pete and Repeat.’” – Noelene O’Donnell.</p> <p><strong>4. A story for their 21st</strong></p> <p>“My three-and-half-year-old granddaughter Tully was encouraging me out of bed to make her pancakes for breakfast. As l rocked and turned to get myself up, she patted me gently on the shoulder and said, ‘Don't worry Nanna, you'll be dead soon’. Needless to say, l will be repeating this story at her 21st in the future.” – Jo Bartlett.</p> <p><strong>5. Chatterbox</strong></p> <p>“Our grandsons live interstate but the oldest, age eight, phones often. After hearing all his news the other night, he said, ‘Sorry Grandy, I've been talking too much. Now, tell me all about your day.’ I'm still gobsmacked.” – Debra Tayler.</p> <p><strong>6. A fair comeback</strong></p> <p>“My husband was in a hurry to take our dog for a walk before he left for his night shift. Our then-three-year-old granddaughter decided that she was going to go too. After about 10 minutes of discussion and arguing, hubby said, ‘I don't have time to stand here and argue with a three-year-old,’ to which she replied, with hands on hips, ‘And I don't have time to stand here and argue with a Poppy.’” – Colleen Spence.</p> <p><strong>7. Soft… like fried chicken?</strong></p> <p>“When my daughter was four, she said to her grandmother, ‘Your skin is so soft.’ Grandmother replied, ‘Thank you,” before Miss adds, ‘It looks like Kentucky fried chicken.’” – Patricia Cohen Lamey.</p> <p>What’s the funniest think your grandchild ever said to you? Share your stories with us in the comments below!</p>

Family & Pets

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105-year-old radiates joy holding newborn great-grandchild

<p>Video of a 105-year-old man meeting his newborn great-grandson has gone viral, depicting the most joyful moment we’ve seen in a long time. Lost for words, the centenarian absolutely lights up when he sees the newest member of the family for the first time.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjason.zwolak%2Fvideos%2F10158677908175389%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=400" width="400" height="710" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>“Easton, at 5 days old, meets his 105-year-old great-grandfather,” new dad Jason Zwolak wrote on Facebook. “This is one of the sweetest videos you will see. Pop is so happy.”</p> <p>Since it was uploaded a week ago, the adorable footage has been seen almost nine million times, receiving hundreds of thousands of likes and shares, plus 55,000 comments and counting.</p> <p>In a recent Facebook post, Zwolak thanked those who made the video a hit. “At the time, I recorded it on Facebook Live thinking it would be a great keepsake,” he wrote. “Little did we know the reach it would have. We have received messages from all over the world. It is absolutely amazing how this video has touched so many.”</p>

News

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How to help your grandchild love learning

<p>As grandparents we know the value of a good education for children. So if you want to get involved with the education of your grandkids, there are lots of options.</p> <p><strong>Spend time together</strong></p> <p>Giving quality time to your grandchildren is so valuable. Children learn through play, so get down on their level and play with the cars or Lego, take them to the playground to explore the slide and swings, get in the kitchen to bake biscuits or make some play dough. Each experience with your grandchild will encourage them to be inquisitive and ask questions, which is a great skill to have when they start school. </p> <p><strong>Read to them</strong></p> <p>From day one, children benefit from being read to. Little ones find it very soothing, and it teaches them about speech and sounds. Have some books at your house that you can sit down with together when they visit, or let them choose their favourites from their own bookshelf to share with you. You can also listen to your school aged grandchildren read, as they will be bringing home their reader each night. </p> <p><strong>Get involved at school</strong></p> <p>It’s not just the parents who can step up and help out at the school – grandparents are always welcome too. You could volunteer for reading with the children, helping out as an extra set of hands for an excursion, or just being one of the people that drops off or picks up the child from school on a regular basis. Some help with preparing costumes for book week is always appreciated too.</p> <p><strong>Attend their events</strong></p> <p>Just being there for your grandchildren shows how much you value what they are doing at school. Supporting them at swimming or athletics carnivals, attending school plays or awards nights, and being on the sidelines for weekend sport is a great way to get involved.</p> <p>What do you do in order to get involved with your grandchild’s education? We would love to hear your ideas in the comments section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/having-a-sibling-makes-boys-selfless/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Having a sibling makes boys selfless</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/sibling-rivalries-in-my-childhood-shaped-who-i-am-today/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Sibling rivalries in my childhood shaped who I am today</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/kids-are-the-worst-instagram/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">In pictures: Kids behaving badly</span></strong></em></a></p>

Family & Pets

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86-year-old welcomes her 86th great-grandchild

<p>Just days before her 86th birthday, Marie Frey received an unbeatable early birthday present – her 86th great-grandchild.</p> <p>If it doesn’t seem difficult enough to remember all 86 names, there’s even more. The Ohio octogenarian has 15 children of her own, 68 grandchildren (including two sets of twins), six step-grandchildren and nine step-great-grandchildren.</p> <p>“It's pretty good that she got to see her,” grandson Kenny Frey (who now has five children) told <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/86-year-grandma-meets-86th-great-grandchild/story?id=40488995" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ABC News</span></strong></a> of the meeting between Marie and his newborn daughter, Blakely Grace. “She's a very strong woman.” The new bundle of joy arrived just days before Blakely’s mother Holly’s 32nd birthday, too.</p> <p>“She came from large family and Grandpa did too,” Kenny adds. “My wife and I also wanted a big family.”</p> <p>The family is set to expand twice more this year, with two more great-grandchildren due to Kenny’s sister and cousin, bringing the grand total to 88.</p> <p>We bet Marie will have her hands full at the next family gathering!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/dr-chris-brown-important-health-alert-for-pets/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Dr Chris Brown’s important health alert for pets</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/expert-tips-for-connecting-with-your-grandchildren/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>5 expert tips for connecting with your grandchildren</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/motherly-love-helps-childrens-brains-grow-bigger/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Motherly love helps children's brains grow bigger</strong></em></span></a></p>

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