LilSugar

Celebrate Grandparents With Gifts That Reflect Their Status

LilSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Grandmas are said to be moms with extra frosting on them. When a mama graduates to nana status, she gets the best of both worlds – a babe in her arms and the ability to hand him back when he become too much. Sixty-seven percent of LilSugar readers expect grandparents to help in caring for their offspring and with Grandparents' Day coming up this weekend, there is no better time to celebrate the older relatives in your lil one's life.

Though homemade cards earn an honored place on the refrigerator, other items may help gram and gramps better connect with kids. The Grandmother Book ($12) requires a bit of work by grandma, but the result will stay with your child for years. A memory book that allows grammy to recount the story of her life, family anecdotes, and experiences, the book also provides space for photos to help illustrate the tale for future generations. Check out the other fun and festive options!

Mommy Dearest: Grandma Encourages Child to Use Cosmetics

LilSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

My daughter is four years old and is as "girly" as can be. She watches me get dressed for work in the morning and even "helps" me put on my makeup. My mom started buying her toy makeup kits two years ago and often gives her the free cosmetic samples she gets at department stores. Both my husband and I have told my mother that we don't want our child playing with makeup, but she laughs it off, saying that we are being too strict. How young is too young for a child to be playing with makeup?

– Don't Want Daughter Made Up

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Don't Want Daughter Made Up,

Lots of little girls and boys like experimenting with makeup, but it's up to parents to decide what age wearing cosmetics is appropriate. The powders, brushes, tubes of bright lipstick, and sparkly eye shadow entice kiddos because they resemble art supplies. Children have flawless skin and features so it's understandable why you don't your daughter painting her face with products that are for adults or may contain chemicals. But you may be sending mixed messages by having her help with your makeup and letting her play with the goodies grandma has given her. You should sit down with your mother and discuss the rules from this point on, and ask that she respect them. Since it seems the two bond over playing makeup, maybe you would consider allowing her to paint your daughter's nails or dab on a dot of clear gloss as a special treat when they are in each other's company.

-Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

Do You Use the Same Discipline Methods as Your Parents?

LilSugar — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Some moms and dads look to their family tree for child rearing advice and use the same methods that their parents used on them. Other couples decide to branch out and take an alternate approach to raising their kids. What did you do?

Is Your Family Near or Far?

babysugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:00:50 -0700

In today's global climate, it is not rare for families to live miles or even continents apart. Generations used to reside under one roof and everyone lent their hands in caring for the wee ones. As children venture off to school and jobs and eventually settle down and have babies, grandparents must travel to see their legacies. Occasionally the family ties are strong enough to pull those offspring back home to their roots.

Are you close to your family tree?
Source

Do Paternal Grandparents Take a Backseat to Maternal Ones?

LilSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:00:53 -0700

One grandmother I know got right to the point saying she loved her grandson more than her son and daughter . . . combined!

Many new mamas have that irreplaceable natural bond with their own mom, making the maternal grandma the go-to for advice and assistance. A recent article by author Barbara Graham questioned whether paternal grandparents play second fiddle to maternal ones. Mothers and fathers have no issue calling their daughters to ask about their grandbabies, but paternal grandparents have to go through their sons or daughters-in-law for information.

Do you find this to be true?

Source

Would You Adopt a Grandparent For Your Child?

LilSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Some grandparents play a central role in their grandchildren's lives - doling out stories of previous generations, providing childcare or even indulging their descendants in the goodies that their parents forbid. Other youngsters grow up not having the opportunity to meet the relatives that predeceased them and lacking those familial relationships that tie the past to the future. To fill this void, one European agency is partnering up parties in need. The report said:

An elderly care unit in a small Polish community has offered to rent out pensioners to locals desperate for the kind of help and love that only a grandparent can offer.

The Silesia University's unit for elderly launched the project "Grandmothers and grandfathers to be hired and loved" in the small southern town of Raciborz earlier this year and has so far found new families for three women.

Would you take part in a similar program if it was available in your area?
Source

Do You Expect Grandparents to Pitch In?

LilSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:00:55 -0800

Grandparents have often been portrayed as the family members who provide "intergenerational care" to cut down costs or offer their two cents in child rearing even when it's not solicited. But, a recent New York Times article focused on an emerging new type of grannies and gramps - those who can't be bothered. Done raising their own children, the mature men and women are no longer about sacrificing their time and energy to focus on tots. And, many of their offspring are put off or hurt by their attitudes.

Source

Malia and Sasha Obama Have Lax Rules at Grandma's House

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:00:54 -0800

The first daughters aren't much different than most kids. They have one set of rules at home with their parents and another when they are visiting grandma. Michelle Obama's mama, Marian Robinson, 72, who looked after her grandchildren while President Barack Obama and his wife were on the campaign trail, said she abides by their rules in their house. The famous granny said:

"I follow the rules at Michelle's house. At my house, they're my rules. (Laughs.) I know Michelle is strict ... When I'm at their house, the girls are doing all the stuff their mother has told them to do, there's not much left for me to do! But when they're at my house, they don't have to scrape the dishes – and they get to watch TV."

Contrary to all the talk, Marian also noted that she wouldn't be talking up permanent residence in the White House. Do your children enjoy more lax rules when they are with their grandparents?
Source

Do You Video Chat With Distant Relatives?

LilSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:00:54 -0800

I'm lucky enough to live in the same city as my parents and in-laws, but some of the moms at Sugar HQ live thousands of miles away from their tots' grandparents. To break the distance barrier, they use the web cams in their computers to iChat with their parents on a regular basis. They say the online video conversations allow their children to keep up their relationships with their grandparents and satisfy the grandparents' desires to see their loved ones on a more frequent than possible basis.

According to an article in The New York Times, there has been a 20 percent growth in video calling over the last year and that number is only expected to grow as more computers contain built-in web cams.

Do you keep in touch with family members via a web cam?

The Gifted Grandparent: Grandpa

babysugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:00:42 -0800

The title "Grandpa" often connotes images of an old man with a cane, glasses and worn out hands. But if 50 is the new 30, then Gramps should act and dress the part, too.

Make sure the man is well groomed with a set of Kiehl's shaving lotions and creams. Your wee one should be begging for kisses from Gramps, not a porcupine.
Keep Grandaddy hip with a timeless pair of Chuck Taylors. The grandchildren will think he's the coolest pop on the block.
For the dapper Pappy, a cashmere tartan scarf will keep him nice and cozy on the outside while giving him warm fuzzies on the inside.

Kiehl's 'Men's Refueling' Kit - $35.50	Converse Chuck Taylor® All Star® Garment Dye Oxford (Men) - $64.95
Cashmere Tartan Scarf - $248.00