They say that nothing in life is a coincidence. Recently I received a seemingly random phone call from another writer, Becky Sarah, who happens to write about the topic of being a grandmother. Becky wrote a book (Whittier Street Press, Sept 2013), Grandmothering: Real Life in Real Families.

My  encounter with Ms. Sarah seemed meant to be — the beginning of a new relationship (I love meeting new writers!), and new information for me to help me in my own life as a grandmother.

As you all know (duh!) – grandmothering is my all-time favorite topic. Hence, this blog. Hence, my book. Hence, my facebook page,  passion of polishing my jobs as a mother-in-law, grandmother,  and mom of adult kids.

And yet, when speaking to Becky I sensed that Becky’s book has so much to offer – so much more than anything I’ve seen or read in the past.

I asked if she would send me her book. She did.

Next thing I knew I was engrossed – no, obsessed, no absolutely loving Becky Sarah’s book.

Her book fills a void in the parenting/grandparenting sections of libraries.  Grandmothering is comprehensive and covers EVERYTHING about being a grandmother. Becky interviewed 80 or more grandmothers from all walks of life and shares with the reader many of their experiences, perspectives, feelings and philosophies.  Some of Becky’s background as a midwife, respected lecturer and childbirth educator, mom, and grandmother as well as her philosophies on competition between grandparents  can be seen in my recent blog post.

Becky’s book has sections that span the spectrum of  grandmother sub-topics: from conflicting feelings one has upon becoming a grandmother, how to best be of help to our adult children and our grandchildren…to the differences between how things were when we were raising our kids to when our own children are raising their kids…to “grandmacare” – the concept and reality of grandmothers becoming caretakers (part-time or full-time) of their grandchildren while their parents cannot for whatever reason….to ideas of what to do that’s fun and enriching with our grandchildren…travel tips, activity tips…and so much more.

As if the above packed sections are not enough, the author also includes an entire section on some out-of-the-box (if you will) grandmother scenarios and how those grandmothers cope in their situations: adoption, step-families, and so forth.

Becky weaves the comments, anecdotes and insights of the many grandmothers she has interviewed into the various sections. While some may use this book as a resource and look things up when needs arise, I found it a pleasure to read from beginning to end as I would a novel or story. The language flowed, the ideas felt natural and I found myself nodding in agreement with many of the grandmothers’ opinions.

Becky wraps up many of the sections with a “Try This…” bullet-pointed list. She encapsulates the previous chapter’s stories and comments with a short list of things to think about. Becky Sarah is gentle in her approach but solid in her advice and insights.

Bottom line? We, grandmothers, are real people. Real individuals. Real goals and real needs. And in our really really huge desire to make things work, we really benefit from reading about the experiences of others.

It opens our minds and hearts and makes us realize that we too can be the best grandmother ever, if we are true to ourselves. From the good, proud, and excited grandmother, to the more reluctant grandmother who is just as great, but needs to set some boundaries because she just can’t lift the toddlers anymore,…to the grandmother who makes that sibling feel soooo special when a newborn is born…to the grandmother who has a quarrel with her adult children, and learns to work it out….to so much more.

And here’s the kicker: Me – the supposed expert on being a grandmother learned so many new and real  things from this book.

And you, a new OR veteran grandmother will too!

Becky Sarah’s book, Grandmothering: Real Life in Real Families  is available on  Amazon.Com

And also available on Ms. Sarah’s website: Grandmothering: Real Life in Real Families

267 pages, Whitter Street Press