Ep 70: Why Some Grandparents Don’t Want to Share Their Story
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
Release Date: 02/22/2025
Ep 84: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Connect with Grandparents (Part 2 with Kim Botto)
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
How do you explain autism or ADHD to a grandparent who just doesn’t get it yet? In this episode, Isabel Tom sits down with Kim Botto—a seasoned educator, speaker, and grandmother of eleven—to talk about how to help older generations understand neurodivergence in kids. This is part 2 of our conversation. With decades of experience in trauma-informed care and family ministry, Kim shares practical tips, heartfelt stories, and gentle language that grandparents can use to better connect with their neurodivergent grandkids. You’ll hear about her personal journey connecting with her...
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Ep 83: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Connect with Grandparents (Part 1 with Kim Botto)
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
Do you have a child with autism, ADHD, or sensory needs—and wonder how to help them build a real connection with their grandparents? In this powerful episode of The Value of Wrinkles, host Isabel Tom shares her personal journey of discovering ADHD as an adult and parenting children who are wired differently. She’s joined by Kim Botto, a trauma-informed parenting expert and TBRI Practitioner®, to talk about how families can support neurodivergent children in forming meaningful, joy-filled relationships with their grandparents. 🎙️ You’ll hear: · ...
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Ep 82: How Grandkid Investigator Missions Helped My 8-year-old Learn What Grandma Really Wants
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
Listen to a yahoo moment from doing the Grandkid Investigator Kit with my son. In this episode I share how my son learned about his grandma’s routine and helped me know how to plan his grandma’s next birthday celebration. Highlights: 3:35 - What happens when we teach our kids to ask questions 4:09 - The importance of helping our kids have conversation with grandparents 5:05 What my son told me that will help us celebrate his grandma’s birthday better! 5:56 – How we typically celebrate birthdays for older people "When you ask them, you honor them." Links mentioned: Get a tool to help...
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Ep 81: The Daughter Penalty - Is It Real?
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
Have you ever heard of the “daughter penalty”? Maybe not by name, but I bet you’ve felt it. It’s also called the caregiving penalty, and it’s the cost—financial, emotional, and mental—that often comes when daughters step up to care for their aging parents. So, whether you’re a daughter doing it all, a son who wants to understand better, or someone who just loves someone in this season—this episode is for you. Highlights: 3:22 – Why people want daughters and the belief that daughters are viewed as better caregivers. 5:05 – Brothers and spouses and how they may step...
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Ep 80: The Best Time to Schedule Visits with Grandparents/Aging Parents
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
When is the best time for YOU to schedule a visit with the grandparents or your aging parents? Today’s episode focuses on being intentional in terms of when you choose to spend time with the elders in your life. We want our visits with the grandparents/parents to be meaningful, beneficial, happy and life-giving, but in order for that to happen it’s possible that we need to consider the timing of when we visit. Dig into that with me today on The Value of Wrinkles podcast where we talk about caregiving, aging, and intergenerational connection: HIGHLIGHTS: ...
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Ep 79: Grandkid Investigator Missions: What Kids Have Learned About Grandparents
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
In this episode, I delve into the experiences three kids have had using Grandkid Investigator Kit (GKI) mission. What have kids learend about their grandparents? Through engaging missions, kids uncover fun facts and stories about their grandparents to foster STRONGER bonds with grandparents. Here's a way that parents/grandparents can create memories and stronger bonds in a very simple and easy way! Highlights Three missions and three things kids learned about grandparents and a grant aunt! Operation IT, Operation Marshmallow, and Operation Make-a-Map The GKI Kit is NOW AVAILABLE for the...
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Ep 78: 3 Tips for Celebrating (Not Dreading) Your Next Birthday
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
Are you afraid to say how old are you now? Here are some tips that I’m preaching to myself to we can celebrate our next birthday! Highlights: 1:02 – The Own Your Age Photobooth 3:30 – Instead of dreading my birthday, I’m going to be a life giver. 4:48 – Asian Grandmas and how they’re different 5:58 – Let your age be your battle scar 8:03 – Replace “aging” with “living”. 10:19 – 2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.". Links mentioned: Connect with Isabel ...
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Ep 77: What Younger vs. Older Moms Want for Mother’s Day
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
Isn’t it interesting that at different times in their lives, moms would want different types of gifts? In this episode, I thought it would be fun to chat about what young moms want and what older moms want for Mother’s Day. What Young Moms Want vs. What Older Moms Want 📩 Connect with me at and tell me what you think about this episode! Grab the Grandkid Investigator Kit 📸 Instagram: @isabelctom
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Ep 76: When Grandparents are not Kid-People
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
Your parents or in-laws just aren’t kid people. They’re not friendly. They’re not engaging and they don’t know how to interact with the grandkids. We do want our kids to know their grandparents, but because the grandparents aren’t kid people, we get frustrated. In this episode, I want to help you work through this issue! HIGHLIGHTS 2:08 – They want to engage but, they feel inadequate in connecting with the grandkids. 3:49 – Are they just not relational? 4:40 – Asian Americans culture and relationship building 5:27 – How can parents give guidance? The...
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Ep 75: Tired of Meeting Together with Family
Value of Wrinkles: Caregiving, Aging & Intergenerational Connection
Do you remember a time when we couldn’t see our families in person? Do you remember when families had to visit with their elders with a window of glass in between? The next time you get together with your family, here are some important reminders: Reminders the next time you're tired of meeting together. Grandparents don’t live forever. It’s a gift to get to be with your loved ones in person. Question to ask ourselves: - How many birthdays do you have left with the grandparents? ...
info_outlineIn today's episode, we're exploring why some grandparents and older individuals may seem reluctant to share their life stories, even when we want to learn more about their past. While many people want to leave a legacy, there are several reasons why some might hold back. Let’s dive into the four most common reasons:
1. Their Story is Hard to Tell
2. They Want to Protect You
3. They Don't Think You'll Understand
4. It’s a Habit
Resource mentioned:
Article by Debra Nofziger - https://deploymentpsych.org/blog/staff-perspective-sharing-combat-experiences-%E2%80%93-why-veterans-struggle-opening-loved-ones
🔗 Listen now and connect with me:
📩 Website: valueofwrinkles.com/contact 📸 Instagram: @isabelctom
Grab a FREE mission from the Grandkid Investigator Kit at valueofwrinkles.com/freemission