There are so many stories. And they break your heart. You can read about and even talk to people through many different non-profits, including churches, serving the poor in the United States.
Elaine, I'm so sorry Jonathan passed. Words can't express the emotional journey you and all those who loved Jonathan are going through. I'm sending you love and peace through this unwanted journey in life.
I just ran through the Deduction for Seniors calculation. It will directly reduce your AGI. The 1040 will also have to be updated as items from Schedule 1-A are going to pull over to new line items on the 1040. For instance, this deduction will get reported on 1040 line 13b. The 2024 1040 does not have a line 13a or 13b! Oh this will be so much fun for everyone!
Neither of my grandparents had much money but one taught me to fish and the other taught me to ride horses. They both had huge summer gardens and I learned to eat and cook (with my grandmas) out of the garden. It was amazing. I wish my children would have had that! It's still some of the most beautiful times of my life.
Thank you for posting this! As a parent who has parents that want to give big presents or cash I wish my children would have had a grandparent who did what you did! Time! Time is Money! There is nothing that Children & Grand Children need more than time.
Yes! At some point between 70 and 75, but before 80, I will move very near to one of the my children! Even if I have 25 good years left ;-)! I will also help any children that are at a distance to pay for flights, etc. to be close when they can. My actions now will hopefully reduce the emotional burden on them in the future. I also tell them that I want to hear their opinions and needs around everything related to my aging. My daughter was quick to ask, "What are you going to do with your investment real estate? When will you sell it if neither of us want to manage or own it?" I've incorporated this into my retirement plans.
I lost my FIL (2006), MIL (2024), and her husband (2023). I've lost my husband (2024-too young-he went from go-go to no go in 4 weeks and he like his father where very, very good men) and my dad and step mother are in assisted living and entering their no-go phase. My mom and her husband are very independent for their ages but the time when they will need help no mater what they think or have planned (they are in the slow go years) is near. I also watched the passing of four beloved grandparents and how my parents, aunts, and uncles dealt with those final years and months and the aftermaths. My experience so far is that humans are awful at imagining or contemplating their own demise. And part of that is because none of us know how it will happen! We can be financially strong which is a huge gift to loved ones but the emotional toll on them of both dying and settling the affairs afterward isn't something we talk honestly about (because: 1. it's all a very very difficult load of psychology; and, 2. the health care industry, attorneys, cpas and financial advisors make a lot of money off this period of time). A lot of times our plans even do more emotional harm when we have the best intentions. That's because they are our intentions but when you enter the no-go and/or have passed our intentions aren't autonomous anymore. We are completely dependent on all these "others" and how they interact with each other. I'm coming to believe that working on family emotional intelligence, loving each other for our weaknesses, eliminating as much sibling rivalry as possible (it is horrific what even the best siblings do to each other) and placing significant faith in god are the only way?
When we talk about estrangement I believe we need to start talking about emotional intelligence. As humans we are not evolving fast enough in this area and I believe it is a significant reason behind estrangement. I also believe people have to create healthy boundaries for themselves around loved ones who do not take responsibility for their own very poor emotional intelligence. Gaslighting is a convenient and effective way to deny reality and irreparably impair relationships. But when you find your people who do not do this to you, you are amazed at the joy, love, and freedom that enters your life.
Comments
There are so many stories. And they break your heart. You can read about and even talk to people through many different non-profits, including churches, serving the poor in the United States.
Post: The 1% Club: Our Unnoticed Wealth
Link to comment from October 1, 2025
Or Buffet "the ovarian lottery."
Post: The 1% Club: Our Unnoticed Wealth
Link to comment from October 1, 2025
Elaine, I'm so sorry Jonathan passed. Words can't express the emotional journey you and all those who loved Jonathan are going through. I'm sending you love and peace through this unwanted journey in life.
Post: Farewell Friends
Link to comment from September 23, 2025
I just ran through the Deduction for Seniors calculation. It will directly reduce your AGI. The 1040 will also have to be updated as items from Schedule 1-A are going to pull over to new line items on the 1040. For instance, this deduction will get reported on 1040 line 13b. The 2024 1040 does not have a line 13a or 13b! Oh this will be so much fun for everyone!
Post: New 2025 Tax Deductions
Link to comment from September 23, 2025
Neither of my grandparents had much money but one taught me to fish and the other taught me to ride horses. They both had huge summer gardens and I learned to eat and cook (with my grandmas) out of the garden. It was amazing. I wish my children would have had that! It's still some of the most beautiful times of my life.
Post: What They Don’t Tell You About Retirement: Part 2 – Grandchildren Are Expensive
Link to comment from September 8, 2025
Thank you for posting this! As a parent who has parents that want to give big presents or cash I wish my children would have had a grandparent who did what you did! Time! Time is Money! There is nothing that Children & Grand Children need more than time.
Post: What They Don’t Tell You About Retirement: Part 2 – Grandchildren Are Expensive
Link to comment from September 8, 2025
Yes! At some point between 70 and 75, but before 80, I will move very near to one of the my children! Even if I have 25 good years left ;-)! I will also help any children that are at a distance to pay for flights, etc. to be close when they can. My actions now will hopefully reduce the emotional burden on them in the future. I also tell them that I want to hear their opinions and needs around everything related to my aging. My daughter was quick to ask, "What are you going to do with your investment real estate? When will you sell it if neither of us want to manage or own it?" I've incorporated this into my retirement plans.
Post: How to minimize the caregiving burden on our adult children when we need help?
Link to comment from August 5, 2025
I lost my FIL (2006), MIL (2024), and her husband (2023). I've lost my husband (2024-too young-he went from go-go to no go in 4 weeks and he like his father where very, very good men) and my dad and step mother are in assisted living and entering their no-go phase. My mom and her husband are very independent for their ages but the time when they will need help no mater what they think or have planned (they are in the slow go years) is near. I also watched the passing of four beloved grandparents and how my parents, aunts, and uncles dealt with those final years and months and the aftermaths. My experience so far is that humans are awful at imagining or contemplating their own demise. And part of that is because none of us know how it will happen! We can be financially strong which is a huge gift to loved ones but the emotional toll on them of both dying and settling the affairs afterward isn't something we talk honestly about (because: 1. it's all a very very difficult load of psychology; and, 2. the health care industry, attorneys, cpas and financial advisors make a lot of money off this period of time). A lot of times our plans even do more emotional harm when we have the best intentions. That's because they are our intentions but when you enter the no-go and/or have passed our intentions aren't autonomous anymore. We are completely dependent on all these "others" and how they interact with each other. I'm coming to believe that working on family emotional intelligence, loving each other for our weaknesses, eliminating as much sibling rivalry as possible (it is horrific what even the best siblings do to each other) and placing significant faith in god are the only way?
Post: How to minimize the caregiving burden on our adult children when we need help?
Link to comment from August 5, 2025
When we talk about estrangement I believe we need to start talking about emotional intelligence. As humans we are not evolving fast enough in this area and I believe it is a significant reason behind estrangement. I also believe people have to create healthy boundaries for themselves around loved ones who do not take responsibility for their own very poor emotional intelligence. Gaslighting is a convenient and effective way to deny reality and irreparably impair relationships. But when you find your people who do not do this to you, you are amazed at the joy, love, and freedom that enters your life.
Post: The Ties That Bind
Link to comment from July 26, 2025
Love This Story!
Post: Under Pressure
Link to comment from July 22, 2025