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    The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing!
    The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing!
    The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing!
    Ebook222 pages4 hours

    The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing!

    By Susan Day

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    About this ebook

    Few of us actively think about our role as grandparents, and what influence we could have on our grandchildren’s lives. We tend to just sit back, cross our fingers and wait to see how they turn out.
    The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing looks at the modern changes of grandparenting. It is an open and honest look at how much the role of grandparenting has changed, and what lies ahead.
    It also considers what grandparents are now capable of, and what kind of positive impact you can have on their grandchildren’s lives.
    It considers at how the internet and social media, such as Facebook, Skype, What’s App and more, impacts on your daily lives.
    This book also looks at the power of reading, and how that can be used to create long lasting memories; how to discipline your grandchildren; and how you can become a mentor to each one.
    You will also learn how to create and adapt your Grandparenting Philosophy into your life. Your Grandparenting Philosophy will be an important document that is uniquely about you, your family, and your goal to connect with your grandchildren.
    You will also will learn the Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing. These wonderful values will be incorporated into your Grandparenting Philosophy so that you can develop a strong, meaningful relationship with your grandchildren.
    No one wants to be forgotten or be left alone in their old age.
    Now is the time to reclaim and strengthen your relationship with your grandchildren. You have so much to offer them, and they you.
    The aim of this book is not to disrupt of change your life now, but rather incorporate what you are already doing and making it better.
    There are also lots of free educational resources that are available for people who purchase this book.
    Happy grandkids = happy grandparents, and reduces depression in both age groups.
    It’s about putting the ‘grand’ back into grandparenting, and empowering all grandparents to enjoy their lives.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSusan Day
    Release dateOct 17, 2017
    ISBN9781370236855
    The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing!
    Author

    Susan Day

    Susan is an author, canine behaviourist, and a storyteller. She lives with her family and dogs, in particular, Rocky the Border collie and Stella, the blind dog. She spends her time blogging, writing and illustrating; training and counselling dogs and being bossed around by the family cat, Speed Bump Charlie and his sidekick, Furball (see Dogs in Space). Susan travelled around the world twice before she was seven years old. It seemed only fitting that the wonderful events she experienced and the places she visited on these journeys be recorded for history. Thus, her story telling skills began. Firstly, to Rupert Bear, her lifelong companion, and then to a host of imaginary friends and finally to her pet dog once the family finally set down roots in Australia. Susan is passionate about children's literature and wants to inspire children to be better people and encourage them to follow their dreams. She runs workshops for children teaching them how to form the wonders of their imaginations into stories. Susan lives in a small country town where there are more kangaroos than people. She shares her country property with four dogs, three cats, three rescue guinea pigs and a very large fish and her patient husband. More about her adventures are reflected in Clarence the Snake from Dunolly.

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      Book preview

      The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing! - Susan Day

      The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing

      Susan Day

      SMASHWORDS EDITION

      * * * * *

      PUBLISHED BY:

      Susan Day on Smashwords

      The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing

      Copyright © 2017 by Susan Day

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by copyright law.

      Susan Day Books Available on iTunes, Kobo & More

      * * * * *

      Table of Contents:

      PART ONE

      Introduction

      Who are Todays Grandparents?

      What is Your Role as a Grandparent?

      Becoming a Mentor

      Building Resilience

      When is a Good Time to Start?

      How Do You Want to be Remembered?

      Connecting with Your Grandchildren—The First Steps

      Working with Blended Families

      Disciplining Your Grandchildren

      Getting Online & Connecting with Your Grandkids

      The Importance of Sharing Books

      PART TWO

      Creating Your Philosophy of Grandparenting

      PART THREE

      The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing!

      Thoughts…

      Few of us actively think about our role as grandparents, and what part we have to play in our grandchildren’s lives.

      According to Dr. Karl Pillemer of Cornell University, the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren is second in emotional importance only to the relationship between parent and child. Children benefit when grandparents are involved in their lives. But grandparents also enjoy benefits from the relationship with their grandchildren.i

      Also, a recent study by Boston College found that, an emotionally close relationship between grandparent and grandchildren is associated with fewer symptoms of depression for both generations.ii

      This book discusses the changing role of grandparenting. It looks at social media, and ways to connect with your grandchildren online. It deals with some sensitive issues including blended families, step-grandchildren, and discipline.

      It also details how you can make a positive impact in the lives of your grandchildren through books, and helping them develop a love of reading.

      It was created to will help you discover how you can connect with your grandchildren and develop a deep, meaningful relationship with each one of them.

      It will also show you how to create your own Grandparenting Philosophy.

      The aim of this book is to help you achieve your goal of being the best grandparent you can be.

      Let’s begin your journey and together we’ll put the ‘grand’ into grandparenting. – Susan Day

      INTRODUCTION

      Sometimes the best families are the ones God builds using unexpected pieces of our hearts. - Melanie Shankle

      The Purpose of this Book

      This book is written for all grandparents, young and old, and also great-grandparents. Its main purpose is to help you create a stronger bond with your grandchildren. This just doesn’t necessarily mean seeing them more often and spending more time with them; although these things are an important step towards you living up to the ‘grand’ in grandparent.

      My goal is to help you create deep and meaningful experiences with your grandchildren, including developing memories which will endure long after you are gone. So, the actual time you spend with them is of maximum value to you both.

      I want you to be remembered for who you are. I want you to have an overwhelming, positive impact on your grandchildren’s lives so that they never forget you. Many grandparents sit quietly in the background waiting to be spoken to.

      Some cook or make toys as a means of contributing to the family life. Others get to babysit, but these types of connections are not entirely on your terms.

      I want you to go beyond these expected roles, and be a mentor to the youngest members of your family.

      Beginning the journey

      To do this you and I are going to begin a journey together. We are going to look at our roles as grandparents, and how they differ from the roles that our parents and our grandparents played. For the first time in the history of the world, we grandparents are empowered. We are healthier, wealthier and have access to information like never before.

      You will learn how to create an immediate connection with them, and build on that so that overtime they will look to you for support and guidance.

      What the Research Says

      Involved grandparents can make a big difference in the lives of their grandchildren. More than half of grandparents see their grandchildren in person at least once a week, while 92% of grandparents report having changed a grandchild’s diaper. This time and care manifests itself in healthier happier grandchildren.

      Dr. Karl Pillemer of Cornell University wrote, Research shows that as many as 9 out of 10 adult grandchildren feel their grandparents influenced their values and behaviors. Grandparents transmit to their grandchildren the values and norms of social order.

      A recent AARP survey of grandparents confirms that grandparents are comfortable giving advice to their grandchildren. For example, 78% of grandparents say they have discussed values with their grandchildren. Grandparents can also have a special role teaching family history.iii

      Your Grandparenting Philosophy

      Together, you and I are going to develop your Grandparenting Philosophy.

      Your Grandparenting Philosophy will be an important document that is uniquely about you, your family, and your goal to connect with your grandchildren. You will create your Grandparenting Philosophy using this book.

      The activities in this book will help you recognize the skills you already have, and the ones you need to develop. It will help you reflect on how you can offer support, and when. This book will help you identify where each of your grandchildren, if you have more than one, need help, how you can offer that help, and also other ways you can develop wonderful memories together.

      You will also learn how to adapt your Grandparenting Philosophy into your life. The aim of this book is not to disrupt of change your life now, but rather incorporate what you are already doing and making it better.

      You will be introduced to the Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing. These wonderful things will be incorporated into your Grandparenting Philosophy so that you can develop a strong, meaningful relationship with your grandchildren.

      Created in 3 Parts

      This book was created in 3 parts.

      Part One looks at the modern changes of grandparenting. It is an open and honest look at how much the role of grandparenting has changed, and what lies ahead.

      It also considers what we grandparents are now capable of, and what kind of impact we can have on our grandchildren’s lives.

      Never before have we had the power, the time, and the skills to make such a significant impact on the lives of our grandchildren. We are wealthier than our grandparents, and we are going to live longer. And importantly, like every other person who has access to the internet, we can now use this to make meaningful connections with our grandchildren.

      Let’s take advantage of all of these things together.

      Part Two is where you create your Grandparenting Philosophy. At the end of each chapter in Part One there are exercises for you to complete.

      In Part Two you will put these notes together and begin to create your very own Grandparenting Philosophy. You can complete this part of the book in this section or go online. You might like to do both.

      The more you write and then re-write your thoughts and ideas, the more clarity you will gain. This will help develop your sense of purpose and add meaning to what you are focusing on.

      Part Three addresses the title of this book – The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing.

      It looks at the 10 most important things you can do as a grandparent to ensure your Grandparenting Philosophy is a success. It gives you explanations which will fit into your philosophy, and examples to guide you.

      It also discusses the types of things you should incorporate into your life which will make your Grandparenting Philosophy a huge success.

      Why use the Word Philosophy?

      It took me quite a while to consider what I wanted to call this part of your program. The term ‘philosophy’ has many different meanings, and is overlaid with a lot of cultural and historical connotations.

      I considered many other words and found, education was too limiting, mission too vague, and approach didn’t pack the same punch.

      I chose the word Philosophy for the Following Reasons:

      The word Philosophy comes from the Greek and means philosophia. This can be literally translated to mean, a love of wisdom.

      In the context of developing a deeper, more meaningful relationship with your grandchildren it should be interpreted to mean –

      A body of knowledge

      A wide variety of beliefs and traditions

      An analysis of the unique characteristics of human beings and how we interconnect with each other.

      This point last point was particularly pertinent to what this book sets out to achieve. The process of human beings, two generations apart, learning how to interconnect with each other: grandmothers and grandfathers to granddaughters and grandsons is the crux of this book.

      This book’s goal is for you to use your skills and experience to make a positive impact on the lives of your grandchildren, and to help them become the best they can be.

      Exercises and Activities

      This book is set out with exercises or activities at the end chapter or section. These go together to create your Grandparenting Philosophy. If you haven’t already got one, grab a pencil and keep it with this book all the time. That way you can jot down your ideas and thoughts. This will keep your mind fresh and actively working towards achieving our goal.

      You can also go back and review what you have written. This will allow you to study what you are trying to achieve on a deeper level, reflect and make changes where needed. There are literally hundreds of ideas in this book, and no doubt you’ll find some more useful than others. That’s okay.

      The idea is that you begin to develop a proactive mindset which will lead you to achieving your goals. Your Grandparenting Philosophy is a means to an end in that regard. It can also be changed and altered as you read this book, and afterwards as you implement it.

      The activities in this book have been carefully created to fit into your unique interpretation of your goals and ideas. Based on your own circumstances and means you will answer each question in turn. These responses will go together to create a larger document your Grandparenting Philosophy.

      The many activities and exercises in this book were created for you to develop a greater understanding of what skills and talents you have. It will also raise your awareness of other areas where you can improve.

      What Age Should Your Grandchildren be Before You Need this Book?

      This book was created for all grandparents, and grandparents to be.

      If your grandchildren are younger than three years, you are in a wonderful, and enviable, position to develop your Grandparenting Philosophy and start using it as soon as they are ready.

      If your grandchildren are older than 15 years, you’ll be able to jump straight in. You probably have a good relationship with them which you have developed over the years.

      This book will help you assist them as they step into those formative adult years. You won’t be making up for lost time so much as adding to what you already share with them.

      Don’t’ worry if your grandchildren are teenagers or young adults. It is never too late to start making a positive impact on their lives. Don’t worry if your grandchildren are still tiny babies, unable to react to you.

      Part One

      Who are Today’s Grandparents?

      "Govern a family as you would cook a small fish – very gently." – Chinese Proverb

      Never before in the history of the world have grandparents been given so many opportunities. We cannot be defined by our age, gender or social status. Some grandparents work fulltime, others are retired. Some live on yachts, and some live in smaller cabins at the back of their children’s homes.

      As the life expectancy has grown, so have the number of grandparents. While in 1900, less than half of American adolescents had at least two living grandparents, that figure had grown to 90% in 1976. Today there are about 80 million American grandparents, which is more than a third of the adult population. iv

      The world has changed so dramatically in the past thirty to fifty years. The things we know now would have seemed foreign and strange to our parents, never mind our grandparents. Can you imagine trying to explain how a smartphone works to your grandparents? What about the internet? Can you imagine how extraordinary video games would seem to your grandparents, never mind about you!

      Many people are becoming grandparents in their late 40s. They are still working fulltime, and are still paying off their mortgages. Their children have left home, and within a period of a few years their homes are filled with the sounds and smells of babies and toddlers.

      This was my situation. I became a grandparent at the age of 47 years old. I was working six days a week running a business. In truth, I didn’t have time to be a fully present grandparent. I was a sole operator, business owner, and was taking calls day and night. I was also responsible for the day to day management of the business, the clients and other services offered.

      Apart from being very busy, I used to worry that I was too young to be a grandparent. I didn’t even look 47! Many people believed I was still in my 30s. Sure, that was flattering, but it didn’t help me come to terms with my new role.

      I was also single at the time, and my lifestyle didn’t fit the preconceived image I had in my mind of what a grandmother was supposed to be.

      Hell, I didn’t knit. I didn’t bake. I didn’t even know how to tie my hair up in a bun!

      In those times, I spent most of my time in jeans and boots, training dogs.

      What kind of grandparent was I supposed to

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