Celebrate Grandparents Day with a Story and a Pocket Full of Memories

Grandparents Day: September 7th

Grandparents Day is definitely more than a date on the calendar—it’s a chance to slow down, share family stories, and strengthen the bonds between generations. Besides what better way to celebrate than with a heartfelt picture book and activities that spark connection?

That’s exactly what a new aws Studios picture book Lucy’s Pocket offers.

About the Book

Fia never met her great-grandmother, Lucy. Nevertheless, thanks to her grandmother Alis’ stories, she learns about a woman who followed her creativity, adapted when life changed course, and always carried a spark of joy.

A picture of a page from the picture book "Lucy's Pocket" showing a woman getting her hair done at a salon.
Page from “Lucy’s Pocket”

In the beginning, Lucy dreamed of art school, but when that wasn’t possible, she attended beauty school instead, becoming the most beloved hairdresser at the Vanity Salon. One day, she treated herself to a beautiful fur coat—a coat that would quietly witness decades of family history.

A picture of a page of text from the picture book "Lucy's Pocket." A great Grandparents' Day book or gift.
Excerpt from “Lucy’s Pocket”

Through marriages, children, and years tucked away in closets, the coat became a treasure trove of memories. Eventually, it was transformed into pillows for Lucy’s children and granddaughter Fia—who received the pillow with the coat’s pocket. Now Fia carries her own mementos everywhere, adding her chapter to the family story.

Perfect for Grandparents Day

This story celebrates family legacy, creativity, and the power of shared memories—themes that feel especially meaningful on Grandparents Day.

  • As a gift: Grandchildren can give the book to their grandparents as a shared reading experience.
  • As a memory-spark: The coat’s journey inspires families to talk about their own heirlooms, traditions, and special keepsakes.
  • As an activity: The companion Reading Guide helps parents, homeschoolers, and teachers bring the story to life with creative, hands-on projects.

About the Reading Guide

The Reading Guide for “Lucy’s Pocket” includes:

  • Discussion prompts to spark conversation about family history, keepsakes, and creativity.
  • Hands-on activities like making a “memory pocket” pillow, drawing family memories, and creating Grandparents Day cards.
  • Games like “What’s in the Pocket?” to make the concept of mementos interactive and fun.
  • Craft extensions such as “Yarn Curls” inspired by Lucy’s salon days.

These activities are simple to set up, work well for ages 4–6, and can be adapted for classrooms, homeschool settings, or family gatherings.

For Parents & Homeschoolers

  • Encourage your child to ask their grandparents about the objects in their home—every heirloom has a story.
  • Use the “memory pocket” activity to help children understand the importance of preserving special moments.
  • Read the story together over video call if grandparents live far away, then share the completed crafts by mail.

For Teachers

  • Incorporate the book and guide into a Grandparents Day celebration at school.
  • Invite grandparents or older relatives to visit and share their own family stories.
  • Display children’s “memory pocket” projects in the classroom to spark conversations about heritage.

A Gift That Connects Generations

Whether it’s wrapped with a handmade card or paired with a craft from the reading guide, “Lucy’s Pocket” isn’t just a gift—it’s a way to create and share lasting memories.

This Grandparents Day let’s celebrate the stories that live in the objects we pass down, the memories we keep in our pockets, and the love that ties generations together.

What about you? We would love to hear about your stories of your grandparents or great grandparents

Read about how I used clip-art for the book’s illustrations!

Understand Your Teen

A Free Tool to Help you Understand Your Teen and

Strengthen Communication and Connection at Home

Raising a teenager today means navigating a whole mix of personalities, emotions, and communication styles. You may have noticed that what works for one of your kids—or one of their friends—completely backfires with another. That’s because teens, like adults, all have different social styles. You need help to understand your teen.

If you’ve ever wondered why your teen shuts down during serious talks, thrives on connection, or insists on structure and logic, this free resource can help.

An abstract graphic of a teenaged girl with red hair and earrings. She depicts a teenager who's parent would like information about raising adolescents like understanding the teen's social style.

Why Social Styles Matter for Parents

Understanding your teen’s social style can transform the way you connect with them. Whether you’re helping with homework, working through a disagreement, or just trying to talk about their day, getting help to understand your teen and knowing how they naturally communicate and process information can make a huge difference.

When you understand how your teen is wired socially and emotionally, you’re better able to:

  • Build stronger, more open relationships
  • Minimize arguments and misunderstandings
  • Support their growth in ways that feel authentic to them
  • Foster a calmer, more respectful home environment

Get the Free Social Styles List

This free Social Styles List gives you a simple breakdown of the four main social styles commonly seen in teens:

  • Drivers – Focused, direct, and independent. They like goals and clear expectations. Learn how to guide them without clashing.
  • Amiables – Loyal, friendly, and harmony-seeking. Discover how to support them with emotional safety and patience.
  • Expressives – Energetic, imaginative, and outgoing. Find ways to channel their enthusiasm and help them stay focused.
  • Analyticals – Detail-oriented, logical, and thoughtful. Learn how to communicate in ways that make sense to them and avoid unnecessary tension.

Each style comes with insight into how your teen might respond in different situations, and tips for supporting them based on their unique traits.

This Freebie Is a Sneak Peek Into a Bigger Picture

The Social Styles List is part of my Circle of Community program—a resource originally developed for educators that parents are now finding incredibly helpful, too. It offers simple strategies that promote empathy, reduce friction, and strengthen emotional connection.

Helping Teens Communicate in a Post-Pandemic World

Let’s face it—today’s teens are growing up in a time of intense social and emotional change. Many are still recovering from the isolation and disruption caused by the pandemic. They’re figuring out how to relate to others while navigating growing independence, academic pressure, and big feelings.

This free list helps you better understand how they interact, what motivates them, and how to encourage healthy communication—skills they’ll use for life.

Ready to understand your teen better?

Get the Social Styles List for free here and start building stronger connections at home, one conversation at a time.

Want even more tools like this? My Circle of Community resource offers deeper insights and simple activities to help you foster communication and emotional growth in your teen.

Ultimate Resource for Parenting Teens

A Handy, Research-Based Guide to Help You Connect with Your Teen

Raising a teenager isn’t easy. Between shifting moods, growing independence, and the rollercoaster of high school life, parenting during the teen years can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, there’s a straightforward, science-backed resource for parenting teens that can help: The Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet.

A picture of the cover of the aws Studios.art resource, The Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet

A Simple, Practical Resource for Parenting Teens

This two-sided, easy-to-read parenting teens guide is based on the respected research compilation, “Raising Teens: A Synthesis of Research and a Foundation for Action.” It breaks down the research into five clear, essential practices for building a strong, supportive relationship with your teen. Think of it as your parenting cheat sheet—one you can keep handy and revisit whenever things feel off-track.

Why This Matters

An abstract graphic of a teenaged girl with red hair and earrings. She depicts a teenager  who's parent would like a resource for parenting teens.

We all want to do right by our kids, but so much parenting advice is either too vague or buried in academic jargon. That’s what makes this pamphlet so helpful: it pulls the key takeaways from a large body of adolescent development research and puts them into a format you can actually use. You’ll find strategies that are simple to understand, easy to try, and powerful in practice.

Whether you’re dealing with daily homework battles, communication struggles, or just looking for ways to stay connected as your teen grows more independent, this guide can help.

How to Use This Easy Resource for Parenting Teens

  • Keep it visible. Put a copy on the fridge or in your planner so you can glance at it when you need a reminder.
  • Revisit it often. Parenting teens is not a “one and done” job. You may find new insights each time you read it.
  • Share it. Got a friend who’s also raising teens? Pass it along. Parenting is easier when we support each other.
  • Bring it to conversations. Whether you’re meeting with a teacher, counselor, or fellow parent, the pamphlet can be a great starting point for discussions about what teens need.

Get Your Ultimate Resource for Parenting Teens

Download the Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet for free here. It’s printable and made to fold up neatly—perfect for slipping into your bag or glove compartment.

Let’s be real: parenting teens can be tough. But with the right tools, it’s also incredibly rewarding. This resource for parenting teens makes it just a little easier.

A picture of the cover of the aws Studios.art resource, The Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet, the Ultimate Resource for Parenting Teens