I want to suggest you do a column on gift giving. I ask because I listen to people at work and in the check-out lines in stores stressing out about this. For example, my co-workers talk about their in-laws as being either cheapskates or extravagant. Then there is the topic of grandparents giving the grandchildren […]
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.
Dreading the Family Thanksgiving Dinner
I am dreading the annual Thanksgiving dinner with my husband’s family. My father-in-law (FIL) and his brother have strong and differing political opinions and they will inevitably end up having one of their shouting matches. It is so upsetting to me, and I envision our three-year-old son, James, being aware of it this year and […]
I Don’t Want My Mother-in-Law to Baby Sit
Both my husband and I work full time. We used to have Alice, our three-year-old daughter, in a day care program that she really loved going to and we felt was good for her. However, when my mother-in-law had a forced retirement a couple of months ago and said that she’d like to be Alice’s […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: I Don’t Want My Mother-in-Law to Baby Sit
Both my husband and I work full time. We used to have Alice, our three-year-old daughter, in a day care program that she really loved going to and we felt was good for her. However, when my mother-in-law had a forced retirement a couple of months ago and said that she’d like to be Alice’s […]
Readers’ Comments on Helicopter Grandmothers
Dear Readers, I received several comments about the Guidelines (Do’s and Don’ts) for Grandmothers (posted 10/12/11) and Guidelines (Do’s and Don’ts) for Expectant/New/Young Moms (posted 10/19/11). One young mom said, “I sent these [Guidelines for Grandmothers] to my mom (she does a great job of honoring these already) I love the ones for me [Guidelines […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Staying At The Grandparents’ is Not So Easy
I feel really disappointed that my in-laws haven’t made it easier for us to stay at their house with our 14 month old. They have yet to provide anything, such as a porta-crib, toys, or books. We’d like to visit them more, but we always have to schlep so much stuff. They also don’t like […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: What Can I Do About Helicopter Grandparents (Part II)
Dear Readers, Last week in my column I responded to a first-time expectant mom who was anticipating a lot of involvement from the grandmothers-to-be, both of whom live nearby and both of whom have strong opinions about childrearing. This mom fears “helicopter grandmothers” — defined as grandmothers who hover over their adult children and/or grandchildren […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: What Can I Do about “Helicopter” Grandmothers (Part 1)
I am a first-time expectant mom and I can already anticipate very, very involved grandmothers, both of whom live nearby, both of whom have strong opinions about childrearing. In an earlier column, you talked about setting grandparental expectations and addressing their assumptions. I’d love to set some boundaries for my baby’s grandmothers, but I am […]