Note from DeeDee: Today's message is from play expert Jill Lerman. Enjoy!Dear More Than Grand grandparents,Maybe you're the grandparent who happily gets down on the floor and builds a block tower for the 47th time. Or maybe you're the grandparent who would rather read a book, bake something, go for a walk, or watch your grandchildren play than pretend to be a puppy. Here's the good news: You don't have to love every kind of play to be a playful, connected grandparent. I'm Jill Lerman, a play...
about 7 hours ago • 3 min read
Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap. ~ Doug Larson Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent Have you ever wished you could have DeeDee on speed-dial? Soon, you can have the next best thing. Click here to be...
4 days ago • 1 min read
“My parents never really play with my kids.” I get comments like this from parents on Instagram at least weekly. Although my account is aimed at new grandparents, I have a lot of parents who follow to see what I’m telling the grandparents. It gives me such a valuable perspective: knowing what the parents are dealing with in addition to what the grandparents are feeling. And one thing I know is this: some grandparents don’t play with their grandkids as much as parents would like. Confession: I...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, I apologize that I couldn’t reply to everyone who responded to last week’s email—the response was overwhelming! I did read each one, and it’s clear that there is a strong demand for more about what I learned at the summit on estrangement. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories—they help me better understand how to help you and others. Based on the volume of notes I took, Rachel Haack (@rachelhaack on Instagram and Facebook) was clearly one of my favorite speakers. She had...
14 days ago • 2 min read
To say the right thing at the right time, keep still most of the time. ~ John W. Roper Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent Do your adult children appreciate your advice? Jackie Kelleher writes about what a minefield giving advice to new...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Last week I traveled to Chicago for a one-day summit on estrangement. While the city showed off with perfect weather and I met some incredible people, I can’t claim to have enjoyed the summit itself. It’s a heartbreaking topic, and the vast majority of attendees were parents who were estranged from their adult children. The room was filled with people desperate to find some new path towards reconciliation. My reason for going was simple: to be in the room with the leading...
21 days ago • 2 min read
As long as my grandchildren need and want me, I just want to be there with an open mind, open arms, and an open heart. ~Sharon Lovejoy Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent Trump Accounts opened for contributions on July 4, and grandparents...
25 days ago • 1 min read
Hello, Reader! I got a message from a grandmother-to-be (GTB) the other day asking for advice. Her daughter didn’t want a baby shower, and she didn’t like the idea of a “sip and sprinkle” after the baby was born. GTB also told me that her daughter had a very long baby registry, and she asked me what she should do. I wasn’t positive if she was more concerned about not being able to celebrate the baby, or about making sure the registry got filled. But here’s what I told her: “Respect her...
28 days ago • 1 min read
Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child's growth as vitamins. ~Joyce Allston Each Saturday, we send you a roundup of articles and resources that will help you be a better grandparent. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this email. This is an easy and much appreciated way for you to support More Than Grand! Growing as a Grandparent What kind of world will your grandchildren inherit – and will they be ready for it? Author Melissa...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Today’s Grandparenting in Real Life message is written by Melissa Richardson, a mentoring expert, researcher, writer, grandmother, and author of Will Your Grandkid Be OK?Dear More Than Grand community,Like many new grandparents, my first steps as a grandmother were tentative. At first, the role seemed simple: love them, enjoy them, and support exhausted parents whenever I could. As my grandchildren grew, however, a much bigger question emerged. What kind of world are they growing into? When...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read