Introduction A ccording to Webster's, GRANDPARENTING is defined as the activity of being a grandparent: participation in the life of one's grandchild as a grandparent. There was a time when grandparenting was hardly considered "a thing" and grandparents were viewed as a nice addition, but not essential to a child's devel- opment. Now, however, with increased life expectancy, grandparents often have many more years of good health to enjoy their grandchildren and play significant roles in their lives and the lives of their families. While grandparenting roles vary across cultures worldwide, this e-book offers the experienced voices of Richard and Linda Eyre, who bring decades of wisdom to this important family relationship. Not everyone enters grandparenthood in the same way. Research indicates that nearly 95 percent of older adults with children become grandparents. Others embrace this role when adult children marry partners who already have children (becoming stepgrandparents), or by informally adopting a grandparent role for children within their family or community circle. Whatever the family circumstance, becoming a grandparent opens a doorway to new opportunities for connection, mentoring, and passing on values and family identity.
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