As grandmothers, we are always on the alert for inspiring reading material. Most of what is out there is relatable to me because let’s face it, we grandmothers are not so picky. We love to read and share about grandmother-hood. But, seldom does a book really resonate on so many levels as this one by Pam Siegel and Leslie Zinberg, which is  a book sharing stories and ideas for how to really connect with our grandchildren in the moment, using fun and creative ideas.

Here’s what I enjoyed about Grandparenting: Renew, Relive, Rejoice:

I loved the humor and lightness in the anecdotes by grandmothers, who shared with the reader the name they are called (of course! What’s a grandmother without a special moniker?). Whether they were Bubby, Nana, Gramma, Safta, GG (that was one!) or the myriad other names, they seemed to be enjoying sharing stories about their interactions. The message I got was that there are so many ways to have fun and enjoy just “being” with our grandkids and many of them we are already doing. The idea is to be mindful and do them more and more. And enjoy the process.

In the old days – or probably still nowadays in some situations – the typical grandmother often sits on the sidelines and observes, without actually being with the kids. Now, that’s a good thing, if the grandmother enjoys that. But some are longing for actual relationships with their progeny, without feeling like their meddling. This book shows us examples of that. I found myself nodding my head to some of them in “ya, I do that…” and in other examples, I thought, “Hmm…I don’t do that, but it would be a great idea if I did. And it’s easy!”

Nothing they suggested was difficult. From mixing ingredients for baking simple recipes with one’s grandkids, to cuddling, to activities to do in the car when carpooling them, to ideas to help the little ones fall asleep when babysitting, songs to sing, meditations to try, and soothing language to use…..and so much more.

The book is divided into sections of Growing Your Self, Respecting Others, Tuning into your body, Experiencing the Present Moment, and others. Each chapter has an anecdote from a contributing grandmother on one side and a message or insight for growth with ideas for connection with grandkids on the accompanying page. The theme of the book is mindfulness and there are 52 (one for each week, presumably) chapters.

I highly recommend this book for all grandmothers, regardless of the age of your grandchildren, or the stage of your grandmother-hood. You will definitely enjoy and grow from the experience. Happy reading!