Family Central — For Grandparents

It's no secret that we're all feeling stuck right now. We're trapped, isolated, and the end seems all too distant. Heck, we may feel lonely even if we're surrounded by our families and those we love. It's a difficult time for everyone and, as parents, keeping a positive outlook for the sake of our kids makes it even tougher. 

According to parents.com, children develop their habits of thinking, feeling, and behaving based on what they're taught about the world, their relationships, and our expectations for them. The ways to keep their thoughts and behaviors positive during this difficult time is easy, us parents just have to work together to make it happen.

• Teach your kids appreciative of what they're given and how they're treated, even the smallest of things
• Listen to what they have to say no matter how silly it may be
• Keep all daily, weekly, and monthly routines strong
• Let them handle their own frustrations but step in where you're needed
• Allow them to work at their own pace. Don't rush growth and deadlines.

If you want to learn more about the steps you can take to keep your child positive and optimistic during this difficult time, click here.

There are many simple ways you can teach your kiddos important healthy habits that will keep them healthy both at school and at home.

Teach your kids about proper handwashing. By teaching kids how to wash their hands properly -- especially after doing things such as blowing their noses or going to the bathroom -- you can greatly help them reduce the risk of getting sick. If you want some tips as to how to teach your child the proper way to wash their hands, click here.

Focus on their immune systems. Make sure they are getting enough sleep, maintaining healthy diets, doing enough physical activities, and managing stress. Continue to remind them of the importance of all these things, allowing them to make decisions that stay in line with what they're taught.

Remind them of healthy habits. Some of these may be common sense to adults, but, for kids, not so much. Teach them not to touch their faces and not to share cups and utensils with friends at school. Other things like covering their mouths when they sneeze and remembering to wash their hands right after is very important as well. Click here for more healthy habits to teach your children.

Keeping a Grandma Diary is a great way to keep memories alive and the journal itself will make a wonderful gift someday.

Sure, photo albums do the trick and, to some, so does social media. However, stories and emotions expressed through your very own handwriting is truly something to treasure.

Here's how to start -- and continue -- your first Grandma Diary!

1. Use a beautiful, hand-chosen notebook or journal. These can be found on Amazon, at local stores, or, who knows, maybe you even have some blank ones around at home. 

Be sure to choose one that really illustrates YOU and your relationship with your grandchild. Does your granddaughter love daisies? Finding a journal with a cute floral design would be just perfect! Maybe your grandson loves cooking with you? I've seen cute notebooks with illustrations of rolling pins, mixers, and chefs hats galore and boy were they cute!

2. Use writing utensils that you love and are comfortable with, and be smart about them. I prefer writing in black ink because it's clean and clear. Some people, however, love to use bright colors like pink or green. There are some grandmas out there who swear by No. 2 pencils!

Whatever the case, find something that won't make your hand hurt and will also stay preserved well. Bright colors may be hard to read, heavy pens might leak, and pencil lead might easily smudge. Remember, this is a keepsake so every detail counts!

3. Start with a cover page or opening letter. My advice is to dedicate one diary per grandchild if you have more than one. This way, the diary is something special just for them and about your relationship only.

Begin your cover page or opening letter with the date -- including the year -- and whatever other fun facts you may want to share. Maybe you write about the most recent time you thought about them, or maybe you'll introduce why you decided to keep the diary. 

4. Date every single entry. If you're thinking about your grandchild on a random Tuesday afternoon, write it down! If your grandchild was just picked up from your house after a wonderful sleepover, note it!

Not only will your grandchild enjoy looking back, but you will too when you spend time to go through what you've written.

5. Your diary should include more than just stories. Remember, since this is a keepsake, it's important to show your grandchild who YOU are as well as what your thoughts and memories are with them. Doodle your favorite flower, share a recipe, glue in some photos, or add some stickers.

What types of things will you include in your Grandma Diary?

What does “that Christmas morning feeling” mean to you?