Grandparents are a lot more than just babysitters who allow your children to watch more TV and indulge in sweets before supper. They are without a doubt helpful with parenting our kids. That is why aside from Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, we also have a special day dedicated to grandparents.

In the United States, we celebrate National Grandparents Day on the first Sunday following Labor Day. The date falls on September 10 this year.

Grandparents Day honors all elderly people, grandparents, great-grandparents, and step-grandparents, who have a significant impact on kids' lives.

According to the Grandparents Day proclamation, the intention behind the holiday is to honor grandparents. This is a great opportunity for grandparents to let their grandchildren feel loved and for the kids to recognize the resilience, knowledge, and advice elderly people can give.

The possibilities are endless if you want to show some appreciation to the grandparents in your life. To celebrate your grandparents, here are a few ideas you can try:

Make them a nice dinner. Give the children as much responsibility for this project as is age appropriate. Depending on your judgment, older children may even handle all or most of the preparation.

Write poetry. Put your appreciation into words. Little kids can work with sentence starters to make it easy for them.

Plan a family time. If the weather outside is great, you can go on a picnic. A movie night or game night are also great options.

Adopt a grandparent. For those who don’t have grandparents anymore, there are many elders you can visit in assisted living centers. Keep them company during the special day.

We should let our grandparents feel grateful for their knowledge, perseverance, and love not only on Grandparents Day but every day.

Are you the type of person who always has the grill going at tailgating gatherings? Or perhaps you prefer to wait till a beautiful summer day and an outdoor area full of friends to don an apron and cook?

Americans are grilling more than ever before, so it's important to remember that a fun barbecue should also be a safe one.

Keep in mind that there is always a possibility of getting burned when working with fire. So, exercise caution. We can avoid injuries with planning and sensible behavior.

Before operating your grill, carefully read the owner's manual and abide by all use, installation, and safety instructions. If you have specific questions, get in touch with the grill maker.

Pick a secure area for your barbecue. Keep grills at least ten feet away from the house, garage, or other building, and place them on a level surface. Grills should not be used on balconies or in covered areas and shouldn't be placed too close to flammable deck railings.

Always keep the fire in check. Either elevate the grid that the food is on, distribute the embers evenly, or reduce the temperature using the controls to put out flare-ups. Take the food from the grill before using a gentle water spritz to extinguish the flames.

Keep post-grilling safety into account. Maintain a clean grill by eliminating fat or oil accumulation from the grills and the trays beneath the grill. If you use charcoal to barbecue and need to get rid of the coals, dip them in water to put them out before throwing them away in a metal container. If not, close the openings and tightly cover the grill; this should put out the flames and leave anything left for another time.

Who has not been harmed by someone else's deeds or words? Perhaps you experienced repeated criticism from your parents when you were a child, a coworker undermined a project, or a friend betrayed your trust. These scars can leave behind lingering sentiments of bitterness, anger, resentment, and even hatred.

People instinctively want to escape from disappointment and pain. It is challenging to forgive because when we flee from our troubles, we never truly recover. We become enraged at those who harm us owing to the suffering they give us. However, there is a remedy that enables you to end the suffering.

Move Forward With Forgiveness

How can we truly forgive ourselves, as well as others? What does true forgiveness entail? How does forgiveness make our life more fulfilling and peaceful? An intentional, purposeful choice to let go of wrath or retribution against someone or something that has wronged you is what’s meant by forgiveness. It is not forgetting, approving, or excusing wrongdoings.

It takes determination for one to learn to forgive. It requires work. To make progress toward forgiving, start by knowing the benefits of forgiveness and how they can positively impact your life.

Determine what needs to be healed and whoever you wish to forgive. Visit a counselor or sign up for a support group. Assess your feelings surrounding the hurt you've suffered, and how those feelings affect your actions. Then it’s time to try to let them go. Decide to forgive that person to release their hold on your life.

One of the most important steps we can take to have more meaningful lives is to practice forgiveness. We can live more lovable, kind, and joyful lives if we give ourselves the gift of forgiveness.

Back-to-school time has come once again! Every parent knows that the start of a new school year entails a lot of work, stress, and expense. There is plenty to do, but not a lot of time to get everything done. Summer goes by quickly and before you realize it, your kids' first day of school is less than a week away.

Planning your list and getting an early start on each item can help you stay on track and avoid rushing the preparations. But where should we start?

1. Shop for school supplies

Start shopping for all the things your kids need, from school supplies to toiletries. Get your children involved by letting them pick out what they like.

2. Outline a new routine

Plan a new routine to prepare the kids for school, especially in the morning.

3. Get the kids on a new schedule

It’s a challenge for children to adjust to a new schedule. Get them out of the summer routine and into the new one you planned out a few weeks early.

4. Plan fun and educational activities every day

Do summer reading and play educational games to gear your kids for a new school year and review the things they learned before the break.

5. Organize and clean your home

You may have relaxed your normal standards for the summer. Starting the school year with a clean and orderly home is a great idea. Keeping things organized will help prepare everyone for the new schedule in the mornings.

Children should feel comfortable, have a good time, and learn things at school. Working through this checklist will have everyone in the family ready and enthusiastic for school, regardless of whether your children are in pre-school, kindergarten, or grade school.

While school is out, summer reading is a great way to keep the kids engaged and learning. Those long, leisurely days are ideal for relaxing with an interesting book.

However, kids may not consider reading during the summer their top priority, but parents and educators should. Why? Reading throughout the summer months is essential for a child's capacity to not only preserve knowledge from the previous school year but also to advance their understanding and their analytical abilities for next year's curriculum.

Reading during the summer can be both fun and educational. What you need for a pleasant reading experience that motivates children to broaden their reading interests is a good book.

For ages 3 to 5 who are at a pre-reading stage, picture books like Silly Sally by Audrey Woods and The Bear’s Song by Benjamin Chaud are great choices. They can follow the illustrations along with the story.

For ages 6 to 8 or early readers, The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination by Brad Montague and That Egg is Mine by Liz Goulet Dubois are great choices that are both attention-grabbing and interesting.

For ages 9 to 12 or middle graders, introduce them to bravery through adventure books. Some great books to consider are Heroes of Havensong: Dragonboy by Megan Reyes and When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller.

For teens, Young Adult novels are ideal! From thrillers to romance, there are tons of page-turner reads like Five Survive by Holly Jackson and Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour.

Present several options for your kids, so they can pick their own books. It will give them a sense of ownership and motivation to read.

One of the best things about summer is the plentiful supply of fruits and vegetables. Nothing beats that first delicious mouthful of watermelon in the heat of August. It's an ideal chance to discover the best garden-fresh produce and embrace the summer mood.

Since fresh fruits are harvested at the peak of their maturity, there is a stronger flavor and an abundant nutritious profile. With an eye to sustainability, purchasing seasonal fruits also enables you to support regional farmers and shop locally. Besides, they are more accessible, which is better for your wallet.

Be on the lookout for the freshest and tastiest fruits this summer!

Peaches are versatile summer fruit you can eat by hand or caramelized into an upside-down cake. You can never go wrong with the ripest and juiciest peach.

Raspberries are best washed before eating or cooking. And you should act fast since they can turn into mush sooner than you might think.

Cherries have been around and loved for over a hundred years. These fruits are great eaten sweet or sour. You put them in a pie or in your cocktail!

Watermelon is the iconic summer fruit recognized by many people around the world. Some might argue they taste plain, but it has a complex aromatic compound that will leave you wanting more.

Blueberries are native to North America and are found in many gardens and even in the wild. They are delicious eaten as it is or made into a sweet sauce or muffin filling.

Head to your local farmer’s market and fill your kitchen with these summer fruits. You can wash and eat them straightaway or turn them into a sweet treat.