Monticello Times Monticello My Generation

www.monticellotimes.com Page 6 MyGeneration • Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 Babysitting for grandparents Crossword puzzles are a newspaper staple. Practice is one of the key strategies to improv- ing completion rates on these word games. Tips to improve your crossword-solving skills Crossword puzzles are an integral component of newspapers. In addi- tion to their entertainment quality, crossword puzzles can help improve cognition and brain health in individ- uals of all ages. The fi rst known crossword puzzle to be published was created by a British journalist named Arthur Wynne, who is often credited as the inventor of crosswords. The fi rst puzzle appeared in the New York World on December 21, 1913. The original crossword was diamond-shaped and did not feature the familiar black squares. Throughout the 1920s, crossword puzzles became a standard offering in many newspapers. During this period, puzzle shapes evolved to the more fa- miliar form, and certain puzzle stan- dards were established. Puzzles now appearing in most North American newspapers and magazines feature solid areas of white squares. Each let- ter is usually part of both an “across” word and a “down” word, and usu- ally each answer must contain at least three letters. In these puzzles, shaded squares are typically limited to about one-sixth of the total. It is estimated that around 50 mil- lion people in America routinely par- take in crossword puzzles. Each year, one best-of-the-best is crowned in the American Crossword Puzzle Tourna- ment. Everyone wants to improve his or her crossword-puzzling skills. These tips can help. • Practice … a lot. Practice makes perfect, even with crossword puzzles. Start with simple puzzles and work up to the more diffi cult ones. • Divide and conquer. Divide the puzzle into smaller sections and com- plete each cluster before moving on. It’s easier than completing all of the across or down clues. • Watch “Jeopardy.” Puzzles used to be comprised largely of defi ni- tions, but they now incorporate just about every subject. Improving gen- eral knowledge and perhaps watch- ing trivia shows can help with puzzle completion. • Learn repeat offenders. Over time you may recognize certain words ap- pear in puzzle after puzzle. You’ll soon be able to match the clues to these repeat words. • Familiarize yourself with multiple word meanings. Remember to think like a puzzle creator, who is prob- ably trying to stump you. The word “fl ower” may not imply the blooming plant. It may represent something that “fl ows.” • Take a break. Taking a few mo- ments to step away from the puzzle before returning to it can clear the mind and make answers more appar- ent. Crossword puzzles are a popular component of daily and weekly news- papers. They’re fun to fi ll out and boast a rich history. Witnessing your children getting older and starting their own lives and families can be bittersweet. There is pride that comes with seeing their successes, but the melancholy of knowing that the years have passed so quickly. Although you may no longer be tucking your chil- dren into bed, reading them bedtime stories or bandaging “boo-boos,” when your children have children, the chance to nurture can start anew. One of the great joys that comes from having older children is the abil- ity to welcome and love grandchildren. Grandchildren are points of light in people’s lives and provide the exuber- ance and excitement that reminds you of your own youth. Grandparents of- ten are thrilled to be involved in the care and upbringing of their grandkids. Some may also live with their grandchil- dren to help take some pressures off of adult children. Babysitting is one way that grandpar- ents can be a frequent fi xture in their grandkids’ lives. If it’s been some time since you cared for little children, it’s well worth it to take a refresher course in child care. Make sure it’s safe Conduct a safety audit of your home if grandchildren will be coming over to your place. Are outlets secured with cov- ers? Are medications you may be taking out of reach? Do you have gates to block stairs or restrict access to certain rooms? Modifi cations may be needed. Assess your health Chasing after children can be a work- out. Be sure you are up for the chal- lenge and have the stamina. If you have any medical conditions that can impair judgement or reaction time, you might want to reconsider babysitting. Take directions The way you parented may not be the same way your own children parent. Be humble and follow their lead with regard to instructions. The parenting guide Apt Parenting advises that you should ask about the eating and sleeping habits of the child. You may have to defer to your own children’s guidelines on discipline and behavior. Learn what’s new Many things regarding childcare have changed in the last 20 years, including safety laws and guidelines. Be sure you are up to date on these changes. And if you aren’t certain about something, ask. This involves everything from crib bar widths to car seat installation. Rim Riders: Group has been together 12 years Continued from page 1 average of 20 miles, then we have lunch,” Carron said. The group has members from all over the area, including Monticello, Elk River, Buffalo, Otsego and Rogers, and members usually fi nd out from word of mouth, and there’s about an equal num- ber of men and women participants. “We also teach different techniques like properly using gears,” Carron said. Hagerty said the litmus test for those interested in whether they can bike from St. Michael to Hanover and back. The weekly routes are determined through meetings. Different volunteers select the weekly destinations, and then serve as the group’s leader that week, as well as determining the lunch spot. Carmen Robeck said each rider trans- ports themselves to the weekly destina- tions. “We have no age limit,” she said. “As long as you can do it, which is a long time we hope!” The group occasionally organizes lon- ger trips like the Wobegon Trail near St. Cloud, which is a 26-mile round trip ride from St. Joseph to Avon. Those interested in joining can call the Crow River Senior Center at 763-497- 8900 or send an email to information@ crowriverseniorcenter.com. The Rim Riders senior biking group includes leaders Debbie Carron, Shirely Hagerty and Car- men Robeck. The group rides each Mondays in various destinations. (Photo by Aaron Brom)

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