The Pink Lady Gives Dating Advice

Grandmother's Advice Spans the Generational Gap

by Jackie Goldberg

What a beautiful day it is to "get up, get out, and get a life." I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I can live the way I always wanted to at this wonderful stage in my life. And, I am here to help you down that wonderfully exciting road to new destinations and adventures.

Let's enjoy our children and grandchildren! We are at a time in life when we don't have to be responsible for their daily lives, so we can sit back and be their friends and the bond between us can grow even stronger. Recently, I went with my six grandchildren, ages 16 to 21, to a popular theme park, where I proceeded to go on every ride and eat everything imaginable with them.

My grandchildren are at an age when they can discuss anything with me. It was during one afternoon at the park when my 16-year-old granddaughter asked to discuss a problem about her boyfriend with me. As a grandparent, my ideas are quite different from her parent's views, for I focus on the broader problem, not the little ones. She explained that he was getting more forward and more controlling and less respectful. Since we are both "dating," I knew what she was going through, as I was having the same problem with a man that I was dating. I told her that at any age, all of us deserve to have the respect and trust of the person we are dating. When respect is lacking, it is time to move on. The right one will come along who will not only understand our wishes but wants to build a solid and meaningful relationship that both parties can be proud of. We all have problems in everyday life that are the same at any age. But the age difference doesn't matter when you try to solve them together with the ones that you hold most dear.

As grandparents, we have now earned the opportunity to enjoy our grandchildren and be able to take them with us on our future journeys as friends who will help fill the rest of our years with happiness and good times. Let's always take the positive path and trust that there will be time for all of us to live, love, and laugh our way through the best years of our lives. See you next month. Please feel free to send me your questions in care of Family Magazine Group, 18801 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 300, Tarzana, California 91356. If you're computer savvy, you can email me at thepinklady@lafamily.com. I look forward to hearing from you.