When I became a grandmother last summer, I started poking around the web, looking for all kinds of grandparenting tips: good games to play with my grandson; advice on how to handle a changing relationship with my daughter and her husband; and a brush-up on my rusty baby care knowledge. Here are four sites I discovered that are authoritative and entertaining.
Fun and Games. You've run through your entire repertoire of funny faces and animal sounds. Now what. For a treasure trove of ideas for activities with your grandchild, from planting a fairy garden to teaching your grandbaby to sign, go to the grand-daddy of all the sites.
What's Your Grandparenting Style? Think you know what kind of grandparent you are. See if you're right - or if you'll be surprised by taking this quiz. Turns out I'm a crunchy grandparent who wants to save the planet. It wasn't the answer I expected, but it's a description I'd like to live up to.
Long Distance Grandparenting There's no solution to the sadness except to grin and bear it - and see those grandkids whenever you can. When my grandson was born 3,000 miles away, I got myself a Southwest credit card and started building my miles. He's eight months old now, and I've been to see him four times. My current passport has an extra section to hold the visas and stamps for all the places I've been. But I don't care if I never add another one. I just want to go to San Francisco, where my grandson lives, again and again. For a chuckle, read this account of another long-distance grandmother.
Grandparenting Classes If you feel hopelessly out of date, there's a new wave of courses to fill you in. Grandparenting classes, often offered by a local hospital, will give you a tour of the maternity ward and a brushup on grandparenting tips and the latest thinking on bringing up baby. Here's the lowdown.
