"My daughter-in-law was pregnant with my first grandson and it made me think about the role I wanted to play," explained Young-Tulin. "I realized it was something I should think about before the baby was born so the role would have some meaning to the family. So I decided to do some research, and talk to some grandmothers." What began with a few mushroomed into 40 interviews as Young-Tulin received referrals and recommendations of grandmothers she should interview. She ended up with a 110-page guidebook that covers a wide area of categories of grandmothers – and could have included more – which is what makes the book unique. Included chapters are Being A Good Mother-in-Law; Self-Esteem or Making Your Grandchild Feel Special; Nearby and Long Distance Grandmothers; Divorced Parents—Divorced Grandparents; Step-Granny Nannies; Gay Granny-Nanny and mothers of gay children with children; Chosen Granny Nanny and Live-in Granny Nanny. Each chapter describes different challenges and opportunities each situation presents as well as tips. In addition, there are chapters dealing with family visits; first time baby sleeps over; going to a restaurant; traveling, helping the grandchild prepare and accept a new sibling. She has put the verb in grandmother.

"This book is different because it's making a contribution," said Young-Tulin, a grandmother of seven, with another on the way. "It's a hands-on guide. I really wanted to deal with attitudes and purposes that women should have before the grandchild is born or in the early years or even if it's later. One grandmother I met said she read the book and said 'You know my grandchildren are teenagers. It's not too late. I've been e-mailing the one long distance and I feel closer to her than ever.' She picked that up in the book. There are categories or situations that come up often. The book is short, easy to read. If somebody's having a grandchild for the first time, they can open the book, go to the Table of Contents and read that chapter and be prepared. It covers a broader scope and applies to babies and teenage kids."

The chapter topics, categories and some of Young-Tulin's conclusions –many of which surprised her -- make the book very current. Among her main themes are the ways of doing things have changed since "we" raised our children, and parents’ rules and methods must be respected. Particularly, in the areas of safety, new laws and methods have improved quality of life for children. Just because "our children survived" doesn't mean the "modern way" is wrong, she says. Far from being a scolding book at grandmothers, it's meant to help, guide and make them understand how to deal with the current times so there is less tension among grandparents, children, childrens-in-law and grandchildren. At the same time, the knowledge and experience of a grandmother can also be helpful to the mother and father. The chapters on divorce and gay grandmothers can tug at the heartstrings.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Kleiner
Michael Kleiner Public Relations
215.704.2397
http://www.kleinerprweb.com