Strengthened Connections

The news these days can be quite sobering. We’re all concerned about the coronavirus and how our family and our community are faring with so much uncertainty. It's unavoidable. But, at the same time, we can try to use our shelter-in-place time as an opportunity to discover new things about our loved ones and strengthen our connection to each other. In my daily phone calls to my mother, I am asking her about her childhood and family. I've found these conversations to be mutually uplifting, not to mention a wonderful distraction.

From just one call, I've learned:

    *   One of my mother’s grandmothers was a 'softie' who baked the best ruggelach. Her other grandmother, however, was a total grouch who left my great grandfather for a man she met at a Democratic Party meeting. One day my great grandfather came home to an empty apartment!

    *  When my grandmother was first married at 16, she worked in a store in the Lower East Side that made hats to order. Later she worked in a hat factory and was the union representative. 

Both my mother and I are grateful to have this time together.  

Whether you’ve got a few minutes or an hour, here are some questions you may want to ask your loved ones:

* Tell me about your grandparents. Were you close to them? How about your extended family?

* What kind of kid were you?

* Have you had any setbacks or challenges that have influenced your overall perspective? How did you cope? 

We’re separated physically, but can - and should - have meaningful, uplifting conversation. My hope is that you and your loved one will find this experience to be a meaningful one — one that strengthens your connections to each other as well as with your past and gives you hope for the future. May you all be well.