I’m deeply moved thinking of my forthcoming book, Where Two Worlds Meet: A Guide to Connecting with Your Teenage Grandchildren, debuting June 21, 2022.
The book includes ideas for grandparents and grandchildren to enter each other’s worlds. So, you may ask, why did we include two chapters about bringing grandparents and their adult children closer?
Because the TOTAL family is vital to the mental health of everyone in the family.
As for those two chapters dedicated to the generation between grandparents and grandchildren, one chapter is on interdependence and the other is on forgiveness.
Why is interdependence so hard?
Interdependence is how we rely on each other when we need to and when we want to. It’s how we as a family fill in gaps for each other to make the whole stronger. Here we embrace the idea that accepting and giving help is love.
It’s just that in US American culture, which values and takes pride in independence, interdependence can be hard, no matter who is doing the relying, the grandparents or their adult children.
Respecting boundaries is also important.
Boundaries are an essential topic related to interdependence. We’ve been clear about that in this book for grandparents. We are the grandparents. Our adult children are the parents. This book gives insights into respecting that line lovingly for everybody.
Forgiveness and making amends.
Forgiveness acknowledges a few things. We may need to ask for forgiveness from our adult children. As grandparents, we realize we made mistakes as parents. We can see that now. We need to forgive ourselves. And we need to listen to our adult children and make amends if needed. Which may take time. And it can be hard. This is why we’ve included lessons on “Tender Loving Communication” (TLC) in the book. TLC covers how to know if or when to bring up difficult topics—be it trying to bring closure to the past or imagine a brighter future together.
We wish everyone knew about this book and could use your help.
Here’s how:
Pre-order the book at bit.ly/WorldsMeetAmazon.
On June 22, write a review on Amazon (or GoodReads or BookBub–wherever you share your favorite books)
Suggest Locations for Book Readings and Launch Events.
We’d love to schedule in-person events in LA and Chicago, and St, Louis, or virtual events around the globe! We welcome your introductions.
Introduce us to your favorite podcasters!
Jerry and Deanna love talking about Grandparenting and how grandparents can connect more deeply with their families. We welcome suggestions, or even better, introductions, to be guests on podcasts to talk about the new book. Hit reply and let us know what you are listening to, or if you can make an introduction.
Please contact us and let us know how you can help.
Praise for Where Two Worlds Meet
“If you are looking for valuable patterns for enhancing relationships between grandparents and teenage grandchildren—and for experiences, ideas, and stories galore, particularly about creating three-generational values and preserving cultural values, this book should be on your list.”
—Linda and Richard Eyre, New York Times #1 Bestselling Authors whose most recent books are Grandmothering and Being a Proactive Grandfather
