Grandparent: The Donald is a rock star for grandchildren

0

Dear Grandparenting: I never imagined I would live to see the day when my grandchildren chattered away about The President of the United States. They were sitting around the kitchen table and they all had something to say pro and con, and the young ones didn’t have to be pushed to enter the discussion. Before Donald Trump came along, my grandchildren couldn’t have cared a whit, much less formed their own opinions about the Oval Office occupant.

You could have blown me over with a feather. I have one possible explanation. I heard something on the radio about how social media users are more likely to be politically involved. That makes sense, because cell phones and computers are what make my grandchildren’s world go around.

America needs its young people to start thinking about something besides the opposite sex and rock stars. Our grandchildren are the future. Love him or hate him, you gotta give old Donald Trump for making politics matter again. Bridget Moran, Boston, MA

Dear Bridget: We suspect your grandchildren’s newfound interest in the Presidency has a whole lot more to do with the man than the office. It’s become difficult to find much in Washington, DC that floats your boat. According to a recent Gallup Poll, citizens rank the politicians lowest of 22 broad professions on bedrock values like trust and honesty, and intense partisan bickering is the new normal in Congress.

Along comes The Donald, and we have news for you. Whatever else you think of him, Trump arrived in the Oval Office as a media savvy rock star of the moneyed industrial set, a man who presents as the epitome of the American Dream – work hard, beat your competitors, win everything.

Throw in “the most powerful man in the world,” as the President is often called, photo streams of his beautiful wife and photogenic family, a roster of grandiose residences, and you have it all – money, power, success, sex! Social media may well quicken your grandchildren’s political engagement, but Donald Trump quickens their imaginations.

Grand remark of the week

Ernie Bell from Champaign, IL found himself “in a spot of trouble” with wife Jane for “wisecracking” recently.

Ernie’s daughter and son-in-law were visiting with daughter Marina, celebrating her six-month birthday.

Cradling his granddaughter, Ernie turned to Jane with a big smile and said “grandchildren are the reward we get for not strangling our teenagers.”

Jane “made a face at me but everyone else had a good laugh,” said Ernie.

By Tom and Dee and Cousin Key

Dee and Tom, married more than 50 years, have eight grandchildren. Together with Key, they welcome questions, suggestions and Grand Remarks of the Week. Send to P.O. Box 27454, Towson, MD, 21285. Call 410-963-4426.

No posts to display