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Grandparenting Open-Minded Grandparents in a Changing World. Joy Stevens |
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Grandparents
adapt to change and changing by looking and thinking with an open mind. |
Grandparenting is
ever-changing! My granddaughter
starts using a computer at the age of two. My six-year-old grandson asks my
husband what a f...ing bit..
is. My divorced son lives with his girlfriend and
her daughter. They have his two children on alternate week-ends. My unmarried
daughter talks of wanting a child but having no use for a husband. My grandmother or
grandfather would not be able to handle this much change. Sometimes, I wonder
about me, too. We are
grandparents in a changing world, one that is changing so fast that we will be
left behind unless we make a conscious effort to learn, adapt, become
open-minded, and reduce the shock-factor by changing. We have to make
an effort to know where this generation is coming from in order to give them
the best of our love and understanding. How can we do
this? I doubt if I'll spend too many days attending concerts or learning
rap-speak. I am not likely to visit what I consider the fringe of today, but
I can read about them and their views with an open mind. I don't comment
on my grandson's haircut or the unusual diet of my granddaughter. I find
something pleasant to say about my granddaughter's attire or I keep quiet. And
I keep reading, to open my mind. I prod my spouse
to try new things: such as leaving messages on answering machines--just to
show you how far I have to prod! |
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You know, the
funny thing is, as I open my mind to their world, I find I am an
ever-changing grandmother, rather than one who is set in her ways: the ways
of a bygone day. Instead of
atrophying, I am growing. Instead of
saying, "Never say those words in front of me," I can gulp and go
on my way. Note: I still prefer the cuss words of my own day. No one even
blinks at those now. Instead of
shutting my ears to new music, I can learn to appreciate it by listening to
it for several months. If we refuse to
make concessions to the new ways of the world, we might lose touch with the
children and grandchildren we love. Actually, one way to feel young is to
welcome new ideas and adventures, as strange as they may seem at first. Well, maybe my
grandparents could handle this much change. Actually they went from the small
town to the large metropolis, from horse and buggies to autos to space ships
to the moon and beyond, from women as the property of their husbands to
women's suffrage to women's lib, from birth control by self-control to pills
to abortion. Maybe they did
not always agree, but they were never stuffy about or seemingly appalled by
the changes. By George, if they could change that much, I can handle it! But I still
prefer the cuss words of my generation. At least my hair doesn't stand on
end.
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| GrandParents Web Directory. | Table of Contents. | Generation Gaps Live Again. |
| Letters from Surfer Grandparents. | Open-Minded in Changing World. | April Fool's Letter to Grandkids. |
| Grandparents as Mentors. | Depression and Grandkids. | Joy of Reading. |
| Time: There is Never Enough. | Subscribe to Free Grandparenting eNewsletter, | Bonding with Grandkids. |
| Grandparents' Birthday Book: A Great (Free) Gift! | Grandparenting and Aging Table of Contents. | Value and Cultural Differences. |
| Grandparents Seeking Advice from Others. | Graceful Aging Starts Early. | Getting Grandchildren to Obey Rules at Your House. |
| What Did You Name Your Grandparents? | Rules for Graceful Aging. | Sharing Ideas: Staying in Touch. |
| More Names of Grandparents. | Reversing Heart Disease. | When You Were Little... |
| Grandchildren. | Avoiding Chronic Diseases. | Grandparenting. |
| Grandparents' visitation rights: Table of Contents. | Avoiding Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Osteoporosis, Diabetes. | Entertaining Visiting Grandchildren: Table of Contents for All Ages. |
| Grandchild's Right to Visitation. | Avoiding Cancer. | Grandkids Funtime: Ages 3-5. |
| Alternatives to court. | Stress and Aging. | Grandkids Funtime: Ages 5-8. |
| Going to court for visitation | Depression and Aging. | Grandkids Funtime: Ages 8-12. |
| If all else fails... | Rocking Chair and Aging. | Grandkids Funtime: Ages 12-15. |
| Divorce: You, your children, their children: Table of contents. |
Grandparents
Using Time-Out for Discipline: Table of Contents. |
Grandkids Funtime: Ages 15 and up. |
| Grandchildren of Divorce Have Moral Rights. | Timeout Defined. | Grandkids
& Frankenfoods Table of Contents. |
| Stepping In After Divorce. | Timeout Information. | What Is Genetic Engineering? |
| When Your Children Divorce. | Timeout Locations. | What Are Potential Benefits/Risks? |
| Camping with Grandkids: Table of Contents. | Timeout and Ages of Children. | Promises and Realities of GMOs. |
| Make Your Home a Summer Camp. | Timeout for the Active Child. | Environmental Concerns. |
| Camping with Grandkids. | To Grandfather's House We Go: Table of Contents. | Grandparents Raising Grandkids: Table of Contents. |
| Checklist for Camping. | Nana's & Poppy's Week. | Role of Grandparent Raising Grandchild. |
| News. | Activities for Kids at Grandparents' Home. | At Grandma's House We Stay. |
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