GRAND Magazine - November/December 2018 Subscribe Today! - 29

legacy
office. There was a time
when there was a distinction
between one's "personal"
life that was considered private and "professional" life
that was public. But with the
invasiveness of social media,
privacy may be a nostalgic
notion. Here are some conversation starters around
this topic:
8. Is it a valid distinction
to differentiate between personal and public character?
9. Should someone be
forgiven for something they
did long ago?
10. How about a conversation about accountability and people accepting responsibility for their
actions?
11. How do you discern
the truth when you hear different sides of a story?
This may also be a time
to have a conversation more broadly (beyond the current headlines) about making mistakes, as in no one is perfect. We make
mistakes. Don't keep them buried in you. Get them out and talk
about the mistake and make better choices next time.

Talk about "- isms."

Racism, sexism, double-standards. Even the current use of
"Democrat" or "Republican" as a label for the "other" is the exact
essence of prejudice stereotyping that fuels "isms." It's labeling all
people of a single group as being monolithic. At the same time
29 GRAND

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2018

15. What does racism mean?

Do people in the US still experience
racism?
16. What does sexism mean?
Do people in the US still experience
sexism?
If my grandchildren could figure
out this one, I'd hope that they would
be nominated for the Supreme Court.

Talk about your own
thoughts.
Justice Ruth Bader
Ginsburg through
the eyes of the
people who know
her best.

businesses are putting diversity and inclusion
front and center as a core value for ongoing
success, our government is getting more and
more entrenched in this two-party-the-otheris-the-enemy binary.
12. How would you define healthy relationships in high school?
13. What does it mean if someone says
there's a double-standard about an issue?
14. How would you respond or intervene if you saw a friend doing something
they shouldn't do?

Most of these conversations I suggest
with your grandchildren are more
abstract. They go beyond the specifics of the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings to talk more broadly
about related ideas. I do think it's
important to say what you think in a
way that's not "preachy." But do share
your opinion as an example of how
to respectfully state your position on
an issue.

Jerry Witkovsky, author of
The Grandest Love is a longtime social work professional,
grandparenting activist, and
passionate grandpa. Jerry
offers fresh approaches to
help grandparents enter
their grandchild's world, to leave values, not just
valuables and create a living legacy. Jerry created the
Grandparent-Grandchild Connection School Program
and curricula with Deanna Shoss, President & CEO of
Intercultural Talk, Inc., in 2016, to work with schools as
the platform to teach grandparents and grandchildren
how to enter each other's world. Learn more here

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