Harriet Hodgson - So, Youre Raising Your Grandkids!: Tested Tips, Research, & Real Life Stories to Make Your Life Easier

So, Youre Raising Your Grandkids! Tested Tips, Research, & Real-Life Stories to Make Your Life Easier

Copyright 2018 by Harriet Hodgson

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or submitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 and 108 of the 1976 US Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of appropriate per-copy fee from the Copyright Clearance Center.

The information in this book is not intended to serve as a replacement for professional medical advice or counseling. Any use of the information in this book is at the readers discretion. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from the use or application of the information contained in this book. A medical professional should be consulted regarding a specific situation.

The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the accuracy of the information within this book was correct at time of publication. The author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from accident, negligence, or any other cause.

Published in the United States by WriteLife Publishing

(An imprint of Boutique of Quality Books Publishing Company)

www.writelife.com

978-1-60808-189-9 (p)

978-1-60808-190-5 (e)

LCCN: 2018932507

Book design by Robin Krauss, www.bookformatters.com

Cover photo from istockphotos.com

Cover design by Marla Thompson, www.edgeofwater.com

Interior photos by Haley Earley, Independent Photographer

First editor: Michelle Booth

Second editor: Olivia Swenson

Praise forSo, Youre Raising Your Grandkids!

Very, Very Complete

So, Youre Raising Your Grandkids! is well written and very, very complete. There are many practical tips on how to have a good life as a grandparent parenting again. The stories, the suggestions, the personal stories are all here. This is a guide from someone who has walked the walk!

Beverly Sullivan,

former Grandparent Raising Grandchildren

A Gift for All GRGs

Out of great tragedy and loss has come this inspiring, practical booka gift for all GRGs. So, Youre Raising Your Grandkids! is like a wise friend, able to be honest about the challenges of being a GRG, while being positive about the rewards. Eight well-organized chapters combine practical advice and wisdom from Harriets GRG experience. The superb, extensive research, coupled with insightful stories, contribute to a most helpful book. Harriets example gives us hope that strength will be there when we need it. Her focus is on kindness and love, and she believes love can lead us and take us where we need to go.

Judith Seward, MS,

Grandparent Raising Grandchildren

An Indispensable Guide

To describe Harriet Hodgson as an expert in caregiving would be an understatement. For more than two decades, shes found herself in the role of caregiver with three generations of family members, including her mother, her twin grandchildren, and now her husband. Through it all, shes managed to maintain her career as a health and wellness journalist, the author of 36 books, and a popular public speaker. In this information-packed guide, she enhances the sound and practical advice found in Help, Im Raising My Grandkids, adding research and family stories that illustrate her points and demonstrate her hard-won wisdom. Readers will appreciate her frank discussion of some of the sacrifices and compromises that come with raising grandchildren, along with her helpful suggestions for coping. For grandparents who unexpectedly find themselves in a parenting role, this book is an indispensable and most welcome guide.

Marty Tousley, RNM, MS, FT, DCC, Grief Counselor,

Moderator of Grief Discussion Groups

Should Be Required Reading

This book is so thorough I feel it should be required reading for university students who are pursuing caregiving professions: teachers, counselors, therapists, and doctors.

Thomas Brandy,

Retired Teacher and Behavioral Counselor

Provides Hope and Support

So, Youre Raising Your Grandkids! is a must read for any grandparents who are currently raising their grandchildren or are functioning as parents to their grandchildren. Harriet Hodgson has crafted a book that is conversational, easy to read, and contains great practical tools and valuable resources. Harriet also covers in detail the challenges presented to grandparents who experience both loss due to death and symbolic loss, both of which are prominent in the grandparents world. Perhaps, the greatest asset of Harriets latest work is her transparency about her experiences raising her grandchildren, which provides both hope and support for those grandparents in similar circumstances.

Dave Roberts, LMSW,

Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Utica College,

HuffPost Contributor, parent who has experienced the death of a child

Revealing and Uplifting

Harriet has assembled an awesome book and guide! Based on her own life experiences, extensive research, and conversations with people all over the country, this book is a lifeline for a segment of the population that few realize is so extensive. Almost everyone knows one or more retirees that are raising their grandkidssome are raising their great-grandkids. Harriets personal stories are revealing and uplifting, showing there is help for anyone providing care for children. She covers so many important topics and buttresses them with excellent research. Caring for the emotional needs of the children who have suffered a personal trauma, dealing with extended family that are not always supportive, dealing with school teachers and administration, and moreher advice is ultimately practical. The bibliography, list of websites, and other items in the appendix are a great source of additional information.

Mark Schultz

Recommended for All Grandparents

This book about parenting grandchildren is very thorough and informative. It is filled with practical suggestions and is wellillustrated by Harriets experiences. Information from many other relevant sources is useful. The chapter on grieving would be especially helpful to both grandparents and grandchildren. I recommend this book to all grandparents!

Joanne Mair, RN, MS,

Retired Nurse Educator, grandmother of nine

Whatever the reason you now find yourself a GRG, Harriets beautifully written, well-researched, personal, and sensitive book will help guide you through the many adjustments you have to make as a grandparent faced with parenting again. Harriet has filled this book with her own heartfelt stories and compiled resources and support to help you get through your own experience. She helps us focus on the joys of seeing the world through young eyes again---a gift for all caregivers.

Adrienne Gruberg, President and Founder

The Caregiver Space

Other Books by Harriet Hodgson from WriteLife Publishing

The Family Caregivers Guide: How to Care for a Loved One at Home

Affirmations for Family Caregivers

A Journal for Family Caregivers: A Place for Thoughts, Plans, and Dreams

The Family Caregivers Cookbook: Easy-Fix Recipes for Busy Family Caregivers

Happy Again! Your New and Meaningful Life after Loss