The role of the grandparent is ill-defined in American Society. Many grandparents have become stand-in parents and many are completely cut off from their progeny, but most function somewhere in the middle ground, building strong connections with their grandchildren, while not serving as matriarchal or patriarchal all-knowing elders.
What kind of grandparent did you have or are you? In honor of Grandparents’ Day, September 12, I talk with my mother, Amelia’s grandmother, about the four types of “challenging grandparents.” We also look specifically at the art of long-distance grandparenting, a common dilemma in American society. Long-distance relationships may decrease contact but they do not necessarily lessen the bond between a grandchild and his/her grandparent.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
