Dear Readers, This is an unabridged version of a column I wrote for GRAND Magazine. My grandsons have reviewed it and have given me permission to write about them. With the arrival of summer, and because so many grandparents spend lots of time with their grandchildren, I decided to focus this column on the little-talked-about […]
Category: Grandparents
Welcome grandparents and parents! We know how important grandparent relationships are, so here you’ll find articles, videos and events on activities grandparents can do with their grandchildren, ways to positively foster these relationships, better communication and appreciation between parents and grandparents (and vice versa!) and more!
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Older Grandson Favored by Grandmother
I worry that as our younger son gets older he’s going to start resenting our older son for the things he gets to do with Grandma. While I have never had to deal with favoritism I have read what the affects can be on children, and I don’t like it.
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Cold Daughter-in-Law Is Causing Problems for Grandparents
We get along very well with our granddaughters and our son. It’s our DIL who is cold as ice. We are just typical people who want to see our granddaughters over Skype, and learn what they are doing in school. We want to spend holidays and vacation time with them as often as possible, too. We don’t know what to do with the mother.
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: “13 Reasons Why”: To Watch, or Not To Watch
Note: This is an unabridged version of a column I wrote for GRAND Magazine. As a parent or grandparent, you cannot escape making the to-watch or not-to-watch decision about 13 Reasons Why, the Netflix 13-hour series that depicts Hannah Baker, a high school student and the show’s central character, who dies by suicide. Hannah leaves […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Ongoing Issues With the In-Laws
I wrote to you last year about favoritism occurring in my husband’s family – his parents showing a preference for their other grandchildren over ours. We took your advice and spoke to his parents about a few of the issues we noticed. They were very appreciative for the information and accepted it, but things still […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Grandmother Is Denied Access to Her Grandchildren
I have not seen my grandkids for ten months. My son-in-law teases me, scolds me, and even assaulted me once by jerking an iPad from my hands. I emailed my daughter about it and she doesn’t believe me. He does it when she is not looking. My daughter ignores my emails. I am worried because […]
Readers’ Comments: Impacts of the Election on Family Relationships
Many readers responded to my column, Impacts of the Election on Family Relationships. Although I focused primarily on family relationships, many readers report that the presidential election affects non-familial relationships as well. For example, one reader writes: “Someone posted this comment on your column [referenced above]: ‘Just experienced a “it’s better if we don’t talk” […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Impacts of the Election on Family Relationships
This is an unabridged version of my column that will be published in the March/April issue of GRAND Magazine. Prior to the presidential election I wrote two columns on how the presidential campaign was impacting family relationships: (1) “Grandparents’ Political Rants Are Upsetting;” (2) “Readers’ Responses to Grandparents’ Political Rants.” Post-election, many readers who did […]