Latest news with #boomer
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Despite our parenting differences, my in-laws are taking my kids in their RV this summer. It'll be good for everyone.
When I got pregnant with my second child, I realized having help would be critical for my family. Though we have different parenting styles, my in-laws have always been supportive. They asked to take my kids on an RV trip this summer, and I didn't hesitate to give permission. I used to be the mom who wanted to control — or "optimize" — every aspect of her child's day. Like many other attentive millennial mothers, I learned the differences between my baby's cries, the "perfect balance" of wake time and rest time, and the signs of an imminent bowel movement. I went through this education mostly on my own, tracking through apps and mentally logging the information in my exhausted brain. Meanwhile, my husband worked long hours remotely during the first year of our child's life in a small apartment in New York City. Once our family moved out of the big city to a small town and I found myself pregnant again, I knew I needed to do things differently the second time around — I wanted to avoid the pitfalls of postpartum anxiety and depression and build a supportive village. Enter my in-laws. My in-laws have a different parenting style than we do They're of the boomer generation, live two hours away, and are genuinely good people, with true hearts of gold. However, because of the generational divide (and, thus, variation in parenting styles), there have been moments of tension as my husband and I have navigated integrating our established families into our developing one. It's a tedious thing to invite your parents into the fold of your household's daily rhythm, particularly when you and your spouse are making decisions that stray from their own. In the beginning, it was a challenge for me to relinquish any facet of care. I became a "helicopter" parent, batting off any influence that I feared would "ruin" my kids' development. I kept my baby close because I had such profound anxiety surrounding my child's emotional and physical well-being. As my daughter grew into a toddler, I began to loosen my grip, relaxing the control I had over every aspect of her daily life. My mother-in-law, retired and delighted to be asked to help out with childcare, was a godsend, arriving with an open heart when needed. However, there were times when she'd offer processed foods or provide ample screen time to our then-2-year-old. I was offended initially, but after some time, I realized that my expectations of her were unrealistic, and my skepticism that she had some sort of ulterior motive wasn't rooted in truth. She'd also raised two children — two wonderful human beings — one of whom I'd chosen to marry, and she cared for my daughter with that same incredible love and attention, in her own way. They're taking my kids on an RV trip this summer, and it'll be good for everyone Now, I have two small children — both girls, 3 and 5 — so when my mother-in-law asked if they could spend a few days with them in their RV in a nearby town this summer, I agreed, without hesitation. Of course, I will always be a little unnerved by our generational differences, which tend to surface via casual remarks, specifically surrounding gender roles, politics, or faith. But I've arrived at this: it is important that I allow my children to experience that precious (and time-sensitive) one-on-one time with my husband's parents — their grandparents. Not to mention, my husband has waxed for years about fond memories of taking RV trips with his mother's parents, both of whom passed away years ago. Recently, I asked him what he remembered about all those camping trips, and I was surprised to learn that he didn't remember any notable landmarks, any final destinations, or any geographical specifics. What he did remember was the smell of his Granny and Paw-Paw's RV — that same overpowering smell of phthalates that transported him back in time whenever he entered his parents' new RV. He remembered the taste of egg salad sandwiches, Pepsi, and plain potato chips. He remembered the countless card games — Uno and Skip-Bo — that occurred nightly at sunset. He remembered perusing the collection of Rand McNally road atlases, relics of pre-Internet days. He remembered the deep tenor of his Paw-Paw's voice and the unsteadiness of his Granny's. Above all, he remembered that trips with his grandparents were never about the final destination: they were always about the journey, as cliché as that sounds. They were always about spending time with each other. Sure, my in-laws may give my kids more sugary foods than I do. They may let them stay up way past their bedtime. They may allow them to watch all the movies and shows they want. But, in my opinion, these are not deal-breakers. They're not reasons to disallow my children an experience that will live on, sweetly, in their memories long after their grandparents are gone. Because, at the end of the day, all that matters is that my children are safe, fed, and loved. I'm looking forward to the experience for them — and I'm looking forward to the break I'll get from caregiving. I'm sure I'll write about them while they're away. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Search and rescue president records whimsical Boomer song to support Project Lifesaver
Stan French, a North Bay man who is the president of the Bay Search and Rescue program released a whimsical tune Wednesday about the joys and challenges of being a retired boomer. A North Bay man who is the president of the Bay Search and Rescue program released a whimsical tune Wednesday about the joys and challenges of being a retired boomer. Stan French said all proceeds will go to charities that rely on Project Lifesaver. 'As a boomer, you've got that freedom to try and stay active,' French said. Boomer2 Stan French, a North Bay man who is the president of the Bay Search and Rescue program released a whimsical tune Wednesday about the joys and challenges of being a retired boomer. (Photo from video) The name of the song came while he was on his way to play old timers' hockey at the West Ferris arena, when he started thinking that being a boomer isn't bad at all. He started to hum a catchy melody and decided to write lyrics and record the uplifting tune. 'As a retired senior, you're going to have the challenges and losses -- things like losses of friends or losses of things like eyesight and hearing,' French said. 'There's going to be challenges. But if you can laugh at those and say that's part of life, that's good.' With the help of his boomer bandmates -- Pat O'Kane, Chris Clarke, Bob Bartlett, Neil Kennedy, Linda McCarthy and Janis Herzog -- French recorded 'Being a Boomer Ain't Bad.' He also released a video for the song on major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Boomer3 Proceeds from the song will go to charities that rely on Project Lifesaver. (File) The video shows French staying active by playing hockey, curling and pickleball, saying hello to his neighbours, taking a cruise and seeing the doctor -- while also forgetting sometimes where he is. French said he'll donate all royalties to One Kids Place, The Alzheimer Society of North Bay and Sudbury, and the Victorian Order of Nurses SMILE Program. The three charities refer clients to Bay Search and Rescue (BAYSAR) and support families needing Project Lifesaver, of which French is president. 'This will be great for us … and help more seniors with having more of that money and keeping them safe at home as long as possible,' said SMILE Program case coordinator Abbey Robarts. One Kids Place currently has 30 children who are on the autism spectrum in the program. The money there will go to offset the cost of Project Lifesaver enrolment. A comfort to families 'It's incredibly comforting to families that they have a number to call, and it immediately mobilizes a team to go and find their child,' said Jesse Reid, the One Kids Place volunteer coordinator. To help kick-start fundraising and improve access so more seniors with dementia can get Project Lifesaver, the Rotary Club of North Bay has provided BAYSAR with $2,000. That money will be used to provide Project Lifesaver at no cost to families with low incomes or no other source of funding. Currently, 56 clients in the District of Nipissing are fitted with a Project Lifesaver transmitter that could help police locate them should they ever wander off. However, French said many people still haven't heard about it. 'We're almost up at the point where we'll have one client for every thousand people in the community,' he said. He's hoping the song becomes an instant classic and an earworm that people will have stuck in their heads. People can also visit French's website to make a direct donation to the charity of their choice. 'I'm going to give them some enjoyment with the song, and hopefully they all return the favor by donating,' he said.
Miami Herald
06-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Famous supermarket brand unveils sweet lineup
When we think back to the days of lunch boxes and school cafeterias, we probably picture ourselves indulging in a delightful meal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiched between two slices of unadulterated white bread. And whether you're a millennial, Gen Xer, or baby boomer, that sandwich of yours was probably made with Wonder Bread. Of course, Wonder Bread comes in several varieties. But many of us associate the brand with the classic white bread experience -- a soft, fluffy sheet of goodness that graced not only our lunch boxes, but our dinner plates on those nights when we were too tired to cook as adults. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter But it's not just the taste of Wonder Bread that made it so iconic. It's also the packaging. Related: Reese's finally offers the 'cup' candy lovers dreamed of Those bright, colorful dots made you excited to whip up a sandwich, whether for yourself or someone else. Now, Wonder is introducing a new product line. And it might evoke a sense of nostalgia for a different reason. Wonder has expanded its bread lineup through the years, but now, for the first time in the brand's 104-year history, it's diving into a related but new product category -- snack cakes. There's a bit of a history there. Flowers Foods, which owns the Wonder brand, purchased it and other brands more than 10 years ago from then-bankrupt Hostess Brands for $360 million. At the time of the sale, Hostess' cake brands, including Ding Dongs and Twinkies, were sold to a different entity. Today, they're part of J.M. Smucker. Related: Krispy Kreme returns fan favorite collection with new additions Now, Wonder is going to be offering some tasty choices that are reminiscent of the iconic Hostess products we all know and love. The new lineup includes: Creme-filled confetti cakes Powdered mini donutsFrosted mini donutsCreme-filled chocolate cupcakesPecan cinnamon twistsGlazed honey buns "For generations, Wonder bread has been a staple in American households," said Ashley Hornsby, director of brand management, in a statement. "With the launch of our new treats, we're excited to bring that same sense of nostalgia and joy to a new category, giving consumers a delicious way to enjoy Wonder beyond the bread aisle." Although consumers have been more careful with their grocery spending, as well as their broad spending, in the wake of sticky inflation, snack food sales don't seem to be slowing down. Snack cake sales, in particular, have been strong in recent years, soaring from $1 billion in 2019 to $1.6 billion in 2023, according to Circana data cited by the National Confectioners Association. Related: Coca-Cola and Pepsi Face an Unlikely New Rival With a Unique New Drink Wonder's foray into snack cakes allows the brand to enter a new section of the grocery store. And given Wonder's strong brand recognition, there's a good chance customers will be quick to give its sweet new lineup a try. Flowers Foods already has its hands in the snack food pot with the Tastykake and Mrs. Freshley's brands. The new lineup of Wonder products will allow the company to capture even more of that market. Of course, one challenge the company will face is the number of players in the snack cake space. From Drake's to Hostess to Little Debbie, consumers already have a plethora of packaged cake and donut products to choose from. More Retail News: Target announces expansion in new area parents will loveMajor healthcare company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Top brands unveil nostalgic new beverage and snack releases Plus, snack cakes do tend to be a product consumed heavily by children. And children tend to be picky about and loyal to the brands they love. Some parents may be hesitant to splurge on Wonder snack cake products, knowing that Twinkies are a sure thing in their household. But if there's one thing Wonder has going for it, it's brand reputation. That alone might help it emerge a winner in the snack cake space. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
