What advice do you have for grandparents whose grandchildren ask them about family secrets? For example, our 8-year-old granddaughter, Elaine, asked us, “Who is Trudy’s real mother?” (Trudy is her cousin on the other side of the family). We know Trudy’s biological mother is her young aunt and that Trudy believes an older aunt is […]
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.
Discover Your Unique Gifts
Dear Readers, I am off “holiday-ing” with my family and will return January 5, 2015. In my absence my guest blogger is Donne Davis. Thank you, Donne! Wishing everyone wonderful holidays and a Happy New Year. * * * * * With the holiday season here, we grandmas often get caught up in thinking we […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Family Members Disagree on Vaccinations for Children
There seems to be a lot in the news about parents opposed to vaccinations. They claim they have read the research and don’t want to take the risk of their child getting autism or having other side effects. What advice you would you offer when some family members are opposed to getting their children or […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: How Not to Say the Wrong Thing
Dear Readers, The holiday season means the coming together of family and friends, many of whom we haven’t seen in a while, many of whom may be dealing with illnesses and diseases. A constant fear is saying the wrong or inappropriate thing to someone who is facing a medical challenge. A reader sent me a […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Gift Ideas for the Grandchildren
As the holidays approach grandparents begin to think of gifts for the grandchildren, typically something material. All well and good, but giving events and experiences as gifts can be an incredibly enriching and valuable alternative. Think how excited a grandchild will be to learn that as a holiday gift Grandma and Grandpa are taking her […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Grandmother Worries about Other Grandmother’s Favoritism
I am the proud grandmother of four lovely girls, ages 8, 6, 4 and 2. The oldest, Faith, is not biologically related, but I fell in love with her when my son and her mom were together. They broke up but I continue to see her. Faith doesn’t know that I am not her biological […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Grandmother Questions Parents Staying Together
I am a widow with two wonderful grandchildren, Diane, 9, and Toby, 11. Their parents are my daughter-in-law, Susan, and my son, Miles. For several years I suspected that Susan and Miles just go through the motions in their marriage and are together just for the sake of the children. Although Susan and Miles are […]
Dr. Gramma Karen: Daughter-in-Law is Obsessed with Getting Pregnant
My friend, Mora, shared a troubling situation with me, and I would like your advice. Mora is concerned about her daughter-in-law, Julia. She says Julia, who is in her late 30s, is obsessed with getting pregnant. She has had many tests done and goes into wracking hysteria every month when she gets her period. Family […]