I grew up in a household in which religion and politics were very important. After I moved away and put myself through college, I formed views contrary to those of my parents. As a result, they laughingly refer to me as “their failure.” I am now married to a great guy (we are alike in […]
Author: Dr. Karen Rancourt
Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., has over 50 years of varied experience. She began her career an elementary school teacher, went on to become a college professor, management consultant to Fortune 100 companies, career coach, and author of six books and a dozens of articles. Dr. Rancourt has helped thousands of parents, professionals and grandparents make important relationship decisions.
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Active Boomer Grandparents and Exercise
This is an unabridged version of a column I wrote for GRAND Magazine. This column is not the usual admonishment to seniors about the need to get off the couch and do more exercise. Rather, I want to suggest that there is a certain cohort group that may need to ratchet down their exercise – […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Guidelines for Planning Children’s Inheritances
Dear Readers, It is a pleasure to introduce you to my guest columnist, Coventry Edwards-Pitt. Covie offers practical guidance to grandparents who want to do right by their grandchildren when it comes to leaving them inheritances. Coventry Edwards-Pitt, CFA, CFP, is the Chief Wealth Advisory Officer at Ballentine Partners, a firm that specializes in providing […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Mother-in-Law Is Making Snide Comments about Daughter-in-Law’s Affair
A few months ago I had an affair with a guy who was an independent consultant on a project where I work. We often traveled together on business trips. When his wife found out, he removed himself from the project and we never communicated again. Having this affair was stupid and reckless, especially since my […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Granddaughter Resists Skyping with Grandmother
My mother wants to Skype once a week with Madison, my six-year-old daughter. However, Madison has started saying she doesn’t want these weekly Skype sessions with Grandma anymore because “it’s not fair to my other grandparents.” I am looking for ideas on how to handle this.
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Young Parents Consider Severing Relationship With Grandparents
You recently gave my husband and me some fantastic advice. We definitely utilized it, but there is still conflict with my husband’s parents. For example, instead of allowing them to manipulate us as to when we would have our son’s birthday party, we just picked the weekend that was best for us. Their response was […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Readers’ Comments: “The Gift of a Gap Year”
Many readers responded to my column, “The Gift of a Gap Year”. For example, an Ivy League college administrator writes: “It’s time for the 40- and 50-year-olds (and grandparents) who have grown up with the old paradigms to look at better ways to make sure their child is prepared for college. We really do need […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Should I Let My Daughter Spend Time with My Abusive Mother?
My childhood was fraught with emotional, psychological, and physical abuse by my mother. She was a daily drunkard for most of those years. Although sober for many years, she has been a pill abuser off and on. My father knew what was going on but never intervened. My daughter Rachel was born in 2005 and […]