Grandparenting info from pregnancy and beyond
To borrow a phrase, reading is fundamental, especially in March when Reading Month takes place. As you think about the books you might want to read, let me make five recommendations for you and for your grandchildren. I'll post one review a day.
1. Welcome to Grandparenting, by Rosemary Weis and Michelle Johnston
My mother was not the stereotypical grandmother . She didn't knit. She didn't sew. She didn't bake. She sang Beatle songs in the style of the Bobbi Mohan-Culp character played by Ana Gasteyer (in those Saturday Night Live skits with Will Ferrell). She picked up strangers she met at the grocery store and brought them home to play Bridge. If they didn't know how to play Bridge, she taught them.
Yet my daughters remind me each time they share stories about my mom that she was their grandma. She created important and lasting memories for and with each of them and their cousins. She enjoyed being Oma more than anything else in her life.
That's the message Rosemary Weis and Michelle Johnston give us in their book Welcome to Grandparenting. They urge us to enjoy the journey and to remember that grandparents have opportunities to make a difference "not only in the lives of your grandchildren, but in the lives of your children as well." They remind us that grandparenting is an important role and that the key to success is to work as a team with our kids for the benefit of our grandchildren.
Philosophies and lessons about grandparenting are sprinkled among ideas for helping the mom-to-be through the first nine months, ways to help ease the stress of modern day parenting for our children (after all we parented in the "olden days"), and tips for being an active grandparent. Weis and Johnston packed this tiny book with common sense, tips, and activity ideas (for the nine-months of waiting for your first grandchild's arrival straight through to the transition into great-grandparenting -- banish the thought).
In the end, the book provides important take-aways:
- Give of yourself
- Partner with the parents
- Think of the children
If you follow that advice, the rest is easy. That's a comforting thought these days.
Whether you are a grandparent-in-waiting or chock full of experience, this book should be part of your library. If you're a parent-to-be, read this book yourself and think about giving it to your parents as a way to announce your joyous news. Why not start off on this wonderful journey together?
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Comments
Lovely idea, Nancie, to give us some grandparenting book reviews.
Jerilyn Dufresne
Chicago Mental Health Examiner
I'm only "in training" as a grandma. But I still love to read you Nancie!
There are some good grandparenting books out there, Jer, but I'm going to review other types of books, too. Speaking of which, I'd love to collect suggestions for books for kids of different ages.
Debbie -- I have a feeling you're going to be a wonderful grandmother (especially if you have granddaughters!). Stop by all the time.
Love this book (Welcome to Grandparenting). Pick one, two, three ideas from it and make a real difference for your grandchildren. The world must not forget about the contribution we older folk can make! This book makes it easy to do.
I read welcome to grandparenting and took away from it some wonderful, creative and inspiring ideas. The message: As a grandparent, parent or child, give from your heart...and it will make all the difference.
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