When sudden behavioral changes led us to a little-known condition called PANS/PANDAS. When Our Joy Boy Changed I called my grandson Maverick my “Joy Boy.” The nickname fit him perfectly. From the time he was born, Maverick was affectionate, funny and full of life. Joy seemed to spill out of him. If someone knocked over a tower he'd built, he'd shrug and say, “It's no big deal.” When his daddy worked on a project, Maverick would pat him on the back and say, “Good job, Dada. Go

Amber Weigand-Buckley shortyellowpencilRX.com For grandparents parenting grandchildren when ADHD, autism, and real-life chaos collide. It to ok me 52 years to realize I wasn't broken. Growing up, I was the kid who got in trouble for not sitting still, for not listening, for being distracted by whatever was happening in the back of the room. Nobody had a word for it back then. You were just "disruptive." Today I know it as ADHD, as well as bipolar and I freely talk about my be

To kick off the weekend, I'm sharing a free set of fall-themed Bible verse coloring pages — perfect for slowing down, giving thanks, and reflecting on God's goodness this season. This set includes scarecrows, pumpkins, sunflowers, apple baskets, and cozy autumn scenes, each paired with an uplifting verse like Give Thanks to the Lord and He Fills My Life with Good Things. Whether you're coloring solo with coffee in hand or sharing with the kids, these pages are a sweet way to

Go figure?!! Apparently, “Did you remember?” is not a sustainable strategy when you are plunged into the role of parenting. Especially when you’re talking to a teenager with ADHD. Or, let’s be honest (and I speak for myself), especially when YOU also have ADHD.

Some days you’re looking for answers. Other days, you’re just looking for one simple way to connect. Not another parenting book. Not another behavior chart. Just something that helps you slow down long enough to be together.

Some of the sweetest moments in our home don’t happen during big vacations, birthday parties, or holiday dinners. They happen over bowls of cereal. In the car on the way to school. While folding laundry. Or five minutes before bedtime when a grandchild suddenly asks a question that opens the door to their heart. As grandparents raising grandchildren, we often feel like we have to have all the answers. The truth? Our grandchildren aren’t usually looking for perfect answers. Th

Amber Weigand-Buckley, bestselling author of #Sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time A Lens of Perspective from a #Shortyellowpencilgirl i.e Bipolar Beauty, Neurospicy Wife & Mother and Woman who continually pushes herself beyond her own limits, against her best sensibilties I want to say up front: I’m not a grandparent raising grandchildren myself. I don’t have the lived experience, and I’m not going to pretend I do. What I have i

Are All Sins Truly Equal? In this episode, we throw away the easy answers and dive deep into the messy, complex questions that often arise when discussing sin and scripture. The concept that "all sins are equal" is prevalent in many Christian circles, but is it really scripturally accurate? Or is it more a human-driven need to categorize and rank?

We created this “Egg-stra Special” Easter Basket Craft as a simple way for grandparents and grandchildren to spend meaningful time together—talking, laughing, and creating something they can keep.

The Book of James is a New Testament letter centered on practical, everyday faith. It does not dwell in abstract theology or lofty ideals.

“I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.” (Philemon 1:6, NLT)

Grandparents raising grandchildren carry a sacred calling. You are not simply filling a gap — you are shaping hearts, restoring stability, and modeling what love looks like when life doesn’t go as planned. Many children in grandfamilies have experienced disruption, loss, or confusion about relationships. Because of that, they may not fully understand what healthy, steady love feels like. The beautiful truth is this: God has placed you in a powerful position to teach them what

The Book of Titus is short, just three chapters tucked near the back of your Bible—but don’t let its size fool you.

You Can Turn Real Photos of Their Grandchildren into a Coloring & Activity Book using ChatGPT (no tech skills required) This coloring book is a keepsake gift. Not fancy. Not perfect. But deeply personal. You’re taking real photos you already have and turning them into a coloring and activity book your grandchild will treasure. This is what it will look like: What You’re Making A small homemade coloring & activity book using: Actual photos of your grandchildren Simple black-an

For grandparents and caregivers raising children because of loss, addiction, incarceration, abandonment, or broken relationships, this question can feel overwhelming. You want to protect their hearts, but you also want to tell the truth. You want to comfort them but you’re carrying your own grief, too.

Christmas has a way of stirring both wonder and worry—especially when you're raising children on a fixed income. You want to make the season special. You want to create moments of sparkle and memory. You want your children to feel the warmth, joy, and security that every child deserves at Christmastime. But sometimes, the budget whispers, "No." And that's when we remember the story that changed everything—a story built entirely on God's Yes. Jesus didn't come with riches, gla

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day of gratitude, comfort food, and familiar laughter. It’s a day when the people you love sit elbow to elbow around the table. At my house, it’s loud, messy, and beautifully imperfect. But for many grandparents raising grandchildren, the holiday comes with a hollow ache you can feel before you even pull out the roasting pan. Because this year…again…your child won’t be at the table. Maybe they can’t be because they’ve passed away. Maybe they s

“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2 (NIV) “Leviticus?” my granddaughter scoffed. “That book doesn’t even make sense. Who reads Leviticus ?” She said it like she’d just bitten into a lemon. “Yes, Leviticus,” I smiled. “Want to play a game while we read? Let’s see how many ways this ‘boring’ book points to Jesus. Spoiler alert: it’s more than you think.” She rolled her eyes in that classic pre

Stacy hit the ground—not on her knees, but flat on her face. Her grandson’s latest violent outburst had pushed the family past their breaking point. Gasping for air in her bedroom, she cried out to God through tears that wouldn’t stop. “God, I can’t breathe. Help me breathe.”

I’m sure every generation has felt this. There have always been wars and bloody battlefields because, well, people and their love of power. Tragedies and “acts of God” have broken spirits and tried faith. Protests have risen to fight injustice.