|
 |
Parents Toolshop® Newsletter
August 2009 - Honoring Grandparents |
In this month's newsletter you'll find:
This month, we at Parent's Toolshop are honoring grandparents. In a way, this is an extension of last month's topic on parenting adult children. When our children have children, we become grandparents. We can also become grandparents other ways, such as through marriage, remarriage or adoption, to name just a few.
Regardless of how it happens, when we become parents and our parents become grandparents, our relationship goes through a major shift. The ease or difficulty of that transition can depend on where we live, how often we see each other, or how similarly or differently we treat the children. As one graduate said, "I'm just the instrument who gave them their grandchild. I ceased to exist the moment she was born!"
Personally, I'm not a grandparent yet and my children have had positive relationships with their grandparents who all live several hours away. We never had any family close by and have spent all but one holiday a year away from home, every year for almost 25 years, just so we can see family as often as possible.
Professionally, however, I have trained thousands of parents, including many grandparents. Over 25 years, I've heard it all, from both the parents and grandparents' perspective, both positive and negative. What I know for sure is that the same skills we use to be great parents can also help us be great grandparents or have healthy, rewarding relationships with our parents or adult children.
A Graduate’s Story: "I took the parenting class so I could help my four-year-old grandson. I found myself using the communication skills with my adult children and people at work. People commented on how my attitude and behavior changed. I had a new sense of joy in my life and soon saw positive changes in all my relationships. My adult child and I had never really gotten along. After changing my attitude and beliefs, he started opening up to me and we resolved some hurts we were both hanging on to. I guess it’s never too late to change! Every area of my life has improved—and I really believe a lot of it is because I changed my perspective from negative to positive!"
|
| Send Me Your Stories |
I am so excited! A major publisher is reviewing my next book, a shorter version of "The Parents Toolshop" that I am writing this summer. I know, it's LONG overdue!
I want to include some fresh stories from parents, like you. For example, problems you experienced and how you solved them using what you learned, funny situations and what you said/did . Any dialogues you can recall that illustrate the real-life applications of the skills you learned in the book/class would be particularly helpful.
I also need fresh testimonials about the results you've received from reading the book. I've heard many miraculous stories but don't have them in writing or always recall who told me.
Do you have anything to send me? I'm actively writing the book now, so the sooner you send a story the more likely I will be able to use it in the book. I hope to finish the book by the end of the summer or end of Sept. so if you could send them in the next few weeks, that would be ideal.
Please send stories and testimonials about the book to me at Pawel@ParentsToolshop.com and put "story" or "testimonial" somewhere in the subject line. Of course, since you are a loyal supporter who gets my newsletter, you'll get a nice discount on the book when it's ready. Contributors will get their books personalized/autographed.
This book is for YOU, so thank you in advance for your assistance and support. |
| Parents Tool Talk Radio |
This month on Parents Tool Talk, we are discussing grandparenting. We will explore the special blessings and challenges grandparents experience and how we, as parents, can have a mutually supportive relationship.
My special guest will be Dr. Ruth Nemzoff, author of the book, Don’t Bite your Tongue: How to Foster Rewarding Relationships with Your Adult Children. Ruth is an adjunct assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies at Bentley College in Massachusetts and a resident scholar at Brandeis University's Women's Studies Research Center. She lectures on parenting adult children, relationships and family dynamics. Her papers are archived at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard University where she also holds a doctorate in social policy. She has served three terms in the New Hampshire legislature and was New Hampshire Deputy Commissioner of Health and Welfare. She is also the mother of four adult children.
Ruth and I will discuss topics such as:
- Why grandparents and parents need to maintain a good relationship
- How to deal with differing parenting philosophies
- When to agree to babysit, and what to do if your adult children get angry when you can't
- When grandparents should intervene in the parenting of their grandchildren
- Rights of grandparents in cases of divorce
- And as always, your LIVE questions!
(Submit your questions in advance to questions@parentstooltalk.com
to increase your chance of an in-depth answer on the air!)
Show Title: Grandparenting
Air Date and Time: Friday, August 14th, 12pm Eastern.
Show Length: 1 Hour
When Parents Tool Talk airs, you can listen to the show LIVE on the Internet by going to:
The Parents Tool Talk Radio Show Home Page
For additional reminders about this and future Parents Tool Talk programs, AND access to exclusive pre- and post-show resources and special offers, join the Parents Tool Talk Mailing List! To sign up, simply give us your name and email address at the following page:
Parents Tool Talk Radio Show and F-R*E^E Parents Toolshop Teleseminars
|
| Featured Resource |
E-Course "21 Days To Healthy Parenting Habits"
If you are a grandparent and would like a crash course in the top 21 parenting tools every parent and grandparent needs to have and use, get the Universal Blueprint® 21-day e-course. Each day, for 21 days, you will receive a quick and concise lessons with a daily Action Tip you can put to use right away.
Click here to order "21 Days To Healthy Parenting Habits" |
In closing, I'd like to say that grandparents are potentially one of the most wonderful assets our children can have in their lives and we want to support and enrich these relationships as much as we can. So I hope each of you, both parents and grandparents, will join our discussion and contribute to it with your questions and suggestions.
Yours in service to families,
Jody |
P.N. (Privacy Notice)- I will always keep my promise to never share or sell your contact information with anyone, and to only contact you if you have opted into my mailing list. |
|
