Ask Dr. Gramma Karen is on vacation until the new year. But have no fear, today we will be sharing some of our favorite pieces of advice she has given us over the past 3 months. If you haven’t caught up with Dr. Gramma Karen, you can find her giving advice to parents and grandparents about situations that arise from their dynamic relationships.
If we are involved in a situation in which we want to give input and/or solutions, we can say, “Would it be helpful if I gave you my opinion/advice?” And then we need to listen carefully to the answer and pay attention to the body language. Sighs of exasperation, eyes rolling heavenward, and arms crossed across the chest say a lot. Readers’ Comments on Advice for Giving Unsolicited Advice
…many grandparents are confused, sometimes even annoyed, by their adult children’s childrearing practices. Some grandparents feel their grandchildren are being overly indulged and need to be toughened up (“She will have to learn to sleep in the daylight at some point”), and/or feel their grandchildren need to learn that everything doesn’t always revolve around them (“It’s what I like to do”). Staying at the Grandparents’ Is Not So Easy
…some families traditions are viewed as sacrosanct and inviolable, so anyone suggesting changing them in any way, especially a newcomer to the family, can be really going out on a limb. Having a heart-to-heart talk with the older generations may be worthwhile, since they are typically the enforcers of the family traditions. Taking the Stress Out of Gift Giving
Be sure to check out Ask Dr. Gramma Karen’s advice every Thursday. E-mail queries to Karen@babybites.com.