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Grandparenting

New grandmother - is this page still topical?

(12 Posts)
Ariadne Tue 27-May-14 17:40:19

Am totally confused but then, the whole title of that book puts me off completely - doesn't that dreadful fearlynewly what's it woman have something to do with it.

Anyway, six grandchildren on, who needs a book? They teach you everything you know!

CariGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 27-May-14 14:42:59

We could do with some sweet rationing at GNHQ today <looks ruefully at (large) empty packet>

Grandmanorm Tue 27-May-14 14:05:38

I remember sweet rationing also and the joy the day it stopped.

rosesarered Tue 27-May-14 13:26:37

Ah yes I remember it well; the great mint humbug shortage of 1942.

Riverwalk Tue 27-May-14 12:46:46

The guide reminded me of the chap who came on asking about memories of sweet rationing during the war!

LucyGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 27-May-14 12:31:26

<ahem> updates on the way since we do have our very own and very modern book now - The New Granny's Survival Guide.

Grandmanorm Tue 27-May-14 12:27:43

This grandmother brought her children up in the 60s and 70s. My contemporaries most certainly did not breastfeed their children until they were almost school age.
We did not have videos etc.
Not sure how old JackyB is but I am not of her generation at all.

Riverwalk Tue 27-May-14 12:17:33

Jacky you're not alone, many of us thought much of the information in the guide assumed that we were all about 80 years old!

No, my children did not 'Watch with Mother' in the 1980s grin

tanith Tue 27-May-14 12:16:00

I brought my children up in the 60's and 70's and we didn't have disposable nappies, car seats or even need to strap the children in believe it not. Of course I've learnt how to do most of this stuff during the years my 8 grandchildren have been growing up but maybe there are still new grans out there who haven't , so although some of the info seems a bit out dated does it really matter?

kittylester Tue 27-May-14 12:13:41

You beat me to it Mini confusedgrin

MiniMouse Tue 27-May-14 12:11:32

confused

JackyB Tue 27-May-14 11:52:23

Having just joined, although not yet a fully-fledged grandmother, I first went to this page to see what you had to say:

www.gransnet.com/being-a-gran/good-granny-guide/first-timer-tips

Surely the comments in this article are outdated by now? This is the sort of advice that my mother would have needed. Today's grandmothers brought their children up in the 1980s! We had disposable nappies, video and music cassettes and plenty of TV and media available. Our children had car seats and were always strapped in.

We were also riding the wave of extreme alternatives and "natural" foods - our contemporaries were breastfeeding until their children were almost ready for school, and yet we also had one of the first generations of children who were plagued with all sorts of allergies and we were quite familiar with the concept of coeliacs and other intolerances.

The mothers (and mothers-to-be) of today are living in a world where we have (hopefully) found a good balance between the radical Whole Food and Herbal Medicines era of the 80s and the chemical-ridden environment of the 60s in which we ourselves grew up.

I shall certainly listen to my daughter-in-law's theories on how she's going to run the "family business" and be happy to learn from her. But it won't include learning how to do up a disposable nappy.