Your First Grandchild: The Survival guide for every new grandparent: Useful, touching and hilarious guide for first-time grandparents

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I grew up in Roehampton in a single parent family. It was just me and my little sister and my mum, so grandparents were quite important. I remember that when my mum was working, my Nan would come down on the bus or the train and look after us in the evenings. My grandfather would come round if anything needed fixing, or if a shelf needed putting up—that sort of thing. He was quite handy. I would visit my grandparents on the weekend. My grandpa would get me doing all sorts of jobs, some slightly dangerous. The book begins with illustrations in greys and muted colours. You’ve got granny in her home with the pictures all askew and a wonderful cat in the middle who appears very unimpressed. Even the flowers are dead. Then this expressive little girl—a bundle of joy—tiptoes around gathering all the things she’ll need to collect “joy.” I can’t remember who said this, but it’s something I heard and always have lived by: a good picture book empowers the child. In this book we do have the traditional fragile looking granny, by the fire with the blanket, and a little girl who just wants to make her feel better. We don’t know what’s wrong with granny, which I think is nicely done. Is she ill or just feeling a bit sad? The child is empowered in the story to cheer her granny up. She takes the initiative: I’m going to go and make granny better. I think this is the essence of this book is that it’s all about that role of grandparents to kind of be the other parents, to be there in times of need. Clearly this is a time of need. He’s going to see Granny because Mum and Dad had an argument, so Dad left. Dad left for the night. Stormed out, I imagine.

Yes, my grandfather constantly had little stories about tigers and villages and people getting decapitated by them. He nearly drowned in a pond. We were never quite sure what the complete truth was. He wasn’t beyond making stuff up! Rosie visits her Abuela, but she forgets that Abuela doesn’t speak English. How will they communicate? First, they start with food. Then they do art together and take a walk. Abuela says a word in Spanish and Rosie says the word in English, or vice versa. No matter what, their love is a language of its own that doesn’t need words. If you’re a new grandparent or are soon be one, here are four books chosen by Ask Granny, to help you get into the spirit of a brand new world when it comes to raising children. You’ll find out we didn’t put them to bed in the right position, we’re not careful enough about germs and a whole raft of other tidbits of information.Lesley Stahl, famed correspondent for the television show, 60 Minutes, explores the changing roles of today’s grandparents, looking at the roles of grandmas throughout history and all over the world today. The book is a mixture of science, journalistic exploration and a number of personal stories to highlight truths. It is both an informative and entertaining read. What role will grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren in today’s fast-paced world? There was always talk of his extended family out in Calcutta, and the wonderful food. His classic saying was always, “Ten pounds, you’ll live like a king.” So, it represented this exotic land but also this place where, being from a poor family, we would be suddenly rich. He was also the grandparent who would give me five pound notes for doing little jobs. I remember once he said to me, “Why do you love me and your grandmother?” And, I said something like, “I love gran because she cooks the food and I love you because you give me fivers.” This “hot off the press” book takes a look at the ways grandparenting used to be done, what still works, and explores new ideas in child-rearing. It’s part practical advice and part inspiration for the monumental task of becoming a grandparent for the first time. The book is divided into chapters that take the reader through the grandchild’s first year and serves as a resource for new grandparents. Gorgeous artwork and lyrical words depict a GRAND day of grandkids spending time with their grandparents. It’s a day with tea and toast, paint and plants, dances and dress-up, and so much love! Gift this to the grandparents in your life! I just think Sam’s book is gorgeous. Focusing on that relationship between the little boy and his grandfather, and having adventures that are dictated by the weather. Other books in the series are Storm, Rainand Snow. Nothing stops them from going out.

In addition, these books take a serious look at the joys and challenges of being a grandparent. How much time will you spend with your grandchildren? What will they call you? Will you babysit? Who makes the rules? Oh, there are lots of things to talk about.My son loved reading it because he loves dressing up—and certainly he’ll happily layer a Robin Hood outfit over a fairy princess dress. He doesn’t differentiate. Anita breaks Abeula’s special flan dish–and she feels guilty but doesn’t say anything while she’s helping her grandparents mix and cook and share the stories of their past. Anita finally confesses what happened and her abuela is happy to know the truth and isn’t mad. “A plate is a plate but YOU are irreplaceable.” You’ll love the story’s relatable topic, the mix of both languages, the Cuban culture, and the love that bursts through the relationships. There was always stuff that needed doing in my grandparents garden and I was always more than keen to help out. I have many fond memories of them from when I was very young. I stayed with my grandparents while my little sister was being born. In these ways, my grandparents took on parenting responsibilities—as well as helping my mum out. I love all the expressions on the characters’ faces. You know exactly what they’re thinking. Even the minor characters appear to have vivid lives. They’re all thinking something, they’re all real. But no one argues with the fact that being a grandparent is one of the most wonderful gifts we receive in life. Take a look. Which of these books best fits your call to the grandparenting world?

You often hear of those projects where young kids go and visit old people’s homes, and the impact that has. I had the pleasure of being involved in one many years ago where we took a group of kids to an old people’s homes and just got them talking to all the residents. It was a joyous afternoon. There was lots of tea and biscuits. Everyone was glowing. I think he liked a little spice. When we played cards, if I cheated, he warned me, “If you did that if you were really playing cards, they’d come for you.” For a child this was very cool, but I’m sure he exaggerated. He also gave me an insight into his life in a different country, India. From his descriptions, it seemed like this magical land—a mysterious place that my grandfather would disappear to once a year. These are very active grandparents; they aren’t wrapped in a blanket in a comfy chair by the fire. You’ve got grannies that take you to the zoo and do karate! We’re not often presented that side of granny-hood. These are very active grandparents, they aren’t wrapped in a blanket in a comfy chair by the fire. These are grannies that do karate!”

Narrated in first person written to you, the grandma, this is a story organized by the seasons. The boy shares his weather-appropriate attire and the activities he does with his grandmother. In autumn, “ I zip up my fleece to the tip of my chin. You pull on a sweater instead. I cover my ears as the wind whistles by. YOu huddle a hat on your head.” Sweet with strong sensory memories. A lyrical story of a boy’s memories of his abuelo. The boy’s abuelo teaches him that there are many ways to be strong, fuerte ; that it’s good to laugh, es bueno reirse ; and to look, mira , at the stars. Even when the boy moves to the big city, his abuelo is always with him in spirit. It’s so limiting when we make these distinctions that you can only be a certain way as a man or as a woman—that there are certain ways that you have to behave, certain ways you have to be, when our souls are limitless.