Becoming a Grandmother: A Life Transition

Previous books on grandmothering have been either scholarly studies or jokey books intended to humor grannies along. Now comes a book that offers grandmothers what they really want - an accessible guide through a major life passage, based on extensive research among grandmothers in the United States, Britain, Australia, and many other countries.In twelve accessible but intelligent chapters we learn about: Images of the Grandmother, Our Own Grandmothers, Grandmothers in Traditional Cultures and in Myths, The Eager-to-Be Grandmother, The Reluctant Grandmother, Birth, Granny Trouble, Feeling Close - Mothers, Daughters and Daughters-in-Law, A Learning Experience, and Grandmother Skills.For many women, becoming a grandmother is a bigger milestone than reaching menopause, and often, these two events occur at the same time, bringing with them many changes. Sheila Kitzinger addresses her subject with great sensitivity and honesty, recognizing that accompanying the intense pleasure of becoming a grandmother are deep anxieties as well.Becoming a Grandmother explores the ways in which grandmothers can find satisfaction in their new roles, achieve a better understanding of family tensions, communicate more effectively with their daughters and daughters-in-law, provide emotional support, and, most importantly, enjoy their grandchildren.