Author Mary Jo Bell
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Cousin Club For Your People!

August 20, 2024
“Cousins are friends that will love you forever”-Constance Richards

Have you also noticed similarities between grandmothers and fairy godmothers? :) This is why I like to call them “fairy grandmothers.” Fairy grandmothers enjoy creating magical experiences for their grandchildren.

Lots more on this, and more, can be found in my upcoming book: Nanahood!

For now, Cousin Club.  This club is a Nana-driven club for grandchildren.

In creating Cousin Club, my goals were threefold:

1. To help cousins develop fun, lifelong bonds with each other, and feel a sense of belonging

2. To teach them to serve others

3. To help them build an unbreakable connection with God

Here are the  “deets” (details) on the categories above:

    How the book I Can Feel it In My Heart began…

    March 10, 2023

    It’s 1987. I am standing in our small New York City, apartment, likely doing “mom-related” things, on behalf of our two very young children. 

    Out of nowhere, a little voice inside me whispers. You know this voice-it’s the kind one that prompts us to help others, to forgive, and to do a multitude of other good things. It’s the opposite of the voice that accuses and condemns us. We always want to steer clear of that mean voice.

    It was the gentle, honest, and loving voice that had my attention. “Would you please help fight pornography?” it whispered.

    Huh?

    Why me? I had only heard the word pornography maybe a handful of times in my life, and I had never known anyone involved with pornography. I felt like a clueless recruit.

    Still, I said “OK” to no on

    TV/Media

    Connect with grandkids by telling them your stories! Here are 6 they need to hear

    Photo of Woman Showing Her Cellphone to Her Grandmother

    Telling stories from your own life is a great way to connect with grandkids.

    The holidays can be a great time for Grandma to really connect with grandkids. One way to do that is by letting them connect with you.

    Mary Jo Bell encourages nanas to bond with the kids through stories. She shares the six stories your grandkids need to hear from your own life.

    Read More

    Holiday Hospitality: 2 ways grandmas can make the season magical

    Grandmother and Grandfather Holding Child on Their Lap

    Make the season special for the grandkids with a little holiday hospitality.

    At your family’s holiday parties this year, be the welcoming nana, the generous nana, and the warm nana. To sum it up, simply be the hospitable nana. It will be the thing to make your holiday party not just memorable, but magical.

    Read More

    Have deeper conversations with the grandkids! Here are 3 ways to connect with them

    Women's White Dress Shirt

    December 9, 2022

    Turn surface-level grandkid chats into deeper conversations.

    Take advantage of the extra time you may get to spend with your grandkids this Christmas with deeper conversations.

    Our leading voice in the Nanahood series, Mary Jo Bell, shares how.

    Read more

    Nanas are needed! 4 reasons grandkids need you now more than ever

    September 20, 2022 2 min read

    Nanas are needed by their families.

    With our Nanahood series in motion, it’s time we introduce our leading voice.

    Mary Jo Bell is an author and speaker in pursuit of filling homes with more love and more laughter. She’s a nana to nine and passionate about that role. She will be joining us monthly to help you find your nana spirit and strength because she believes nanas are needed now more than ever.

    Read more

    Now is the best time to be a grandma! Here are 3 ways to make the most of nanahood

    September 1, 2021 1 min read

    Be a grandma in the best way!

    There’s motherhood, there’s fatherhood, and now there’s a new term we are loving – nanahood! Being a grandma can be more than just play time and endless treats. Make time spent with the grandchildren meaningful and something they will remember throughout their life.

    Mary Bell shares three ways she makes nanahood special for her grandkids. Women are living thirty years longer than a century ago, and that gives grandmas greater opportunities to be influential in their grandchildren’s lives.

    Read more

    No toys from grandma? Here are 5 ways to gift an experience instead of things

    What if grandma gave no toys this Christmas?

    We know toys are the big ticket items with kids at Christmas. But as a grandma, what if you took a different approach? Spending time with your grandkids will give them emotional oxygen that will outlast any toy.

    Mary Bell shares what emotional oxygen is. She gives five ideas for giving grandkids an experience with their grandparents, whether you live close to them or not. One is a gift in disguise for your daughter or daughter-in-law! While you spend time with the kids, mom can get things done.

    Read more

    Bonding With Grandchildren: These 5 things will help you grow this important relationship

    Photo of Woman Embracing Her Grandmother

    June 23, 2022 4 min read

    Bonding with grandchildren can be done with these five specific things.

    Anyone can have a relationship – but not every relationship takes hold of your heart.

    Author and speaker Mary Jo Bell believes there is one relationship that should. She is on a quest to strengthen the grandparent connection, and has observed five specific things grandparents can do to become genuinely close with their grandkids.

    Read more

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    © 2025 Podcast host and Author of The Pursuit of Happi-Nest, Cedar Fort Publishing Powered by Jottful Image credits
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