The Twelve Rules of Grandparenting: A New Look at Traditional Roles and How to Break Them

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended reading for all grandparents!
Review: In The 12 Rules Of Grandparenting: A New Look At Traditional Roles And How To Break Them, Susan Kettman examines the "rules" of grandparenting and seeks to clarify, explain, and reform in a non-threatening way what should be expected of grandparents -- and what not to expect. Advice is offered on such sensitive subjects as developing a positive grandparenting attitude while maintaining a life of your own; babysitting (and how to say "no" when necessary); fun projects and activities to enjoy with grandchildren; giving to grandchildren without spoiling them; techniques for scolding or disciplining without hurt feelings; involvement in situations of divorce, custody or illness. Enhanced with an appendix of grandparent support organizations, The 12 Rules Of Grandparenting is "must" reading for anyone who has become a grandparent and wishes to fully enjoy the experience, or must deal with disruption in the lives of their grandchildren and in need of sound advice on what to do.

Rating:
Summary: Hit the nail on the head!
Review: This book tells it like it is! Ms. Kettmann takes twelve common cultural beliefs about grandparenting and turns them upside down, challenging the reader to either accept or reject the ideas based on their own value system. Her background as a child development specialist really comes through. This is not just a book of opinions. It is a collection of ideas that span her long career working with families. A dynamite section on things to do with grandchildren is rated by cost, age and attention span. After twenty years since having kids around the house and I am not ashamed to admit that I HAVE forgotten how to juggle it all. For anyone who wants to grandparent without guilt and get through the difficult issues (discipline, spoiling, difficult parents this book is a must!