LilSugar

Would You Sign Your Parents Up For a Grandparenting Class?

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:36:24 PST

"Oh, we didn't do that in our day, and you turned out just fine!" Women have been giving birth and raising babies since the beginning of time, but how we do it has changed quite a bit. From placing babies on their backs to sleep, and removing bumpers from the crib to keeping tots in rear-facing car seats (or car seats at all!) for as long as possible, a lot has changed since our parents were the newbies feeling their way around this little thing called parenting.

Once a newborn arrives, it's not only the parents who must learn how to do things, but the grandparents who must relearn the modern way of raising a baby. To ease the "unlearning" - and avoid uncomfortable conversations where a new mom might have to correct her mother-in-law - many hospitals and community centers offer grandparenting classes where they can learn everything from the latest safety standards to CPR.

How Well Do You Get Along With Your Mama?

LilSugar — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:32:10 PDT

A recent study concluded that a mom's relationship with her mother-in-law is the most stressful part of parenthood - but your own mother can cause stress in your life as well.

The relationship between mother and daughter can be quite complicated. Some women have great relationships with their own mothers, while others try to avoid having a relationship altogether. One disagreement with mom can send even the most seemingly put-together parent back to those teenage years, when she cried in her room blaring loud music and dreaming of the day when she would be the mom - she would do things differently.

On last night's episode of Up All Night, Christina Applegate's Regan did just that. She tried to avoid a visit with her parents due to her stressed relationship with her mom, played by Blythe Danner. In hopes of having a great relationship with her own daughter in the future, Regan decided to lead by example and tried to connect with her self-absorbed mom. In the end, it all worked out - but not before Regan had a good cry in her room.

So tell us, how well do you get along with your mama?

Rent-A-Grandma: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:32:24 PDT

Add Grandma to the list of rentable clothes, products, and services geared toward parents and kids. Rent-A-Grandma is a new employment agency specializing in placing women over 50 years old with families looking for babysitting or light housekeeping services. Operating under the tagline "Always Trust Your Grandma," Rent-A-Grandma believes that its employees - averaging around 60 years old - aren't just an alternative option to hiring the teenage girl next door, but a superior one. In an interview in this month's Entrepreneur Magazine, the company's founder explained the logic behind his older is better claim:

Not everybody over 50 is the best ever. But about 90 percent of our grandmas have previous domestic experience. These are not retired women who are bored. These are women who are passionate and want to work. It's kind of disappointing to see how many good, older women are out there who can't find a job. A lot of times people in their early 20s are thinking about their career or going back to school, or they meet somebody and get married and move away. They're in a different stage of life. We recommend clients interview at least three grandmas before hiring them. We're trying to create a lasting relationship.

Are You a Better Mom Than Your Mother?

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:27:10 PDT

Life's not a competition, but we often find ourselves comparing our actions to those of other moms around us.

One mama we spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to is our own. While some wish to re-create their own mother's parenting styles, others use their experiences as a basis for creating better childhoods for their own kids. For some it is an idealized version of their own childhood that they choose to recall while for other's there are parts of their past they wish to forget. Whether it's being more patient with your tots, or spending more time with them than your own mother did, tell me: do you think you're a better parent than your mom?

Guess What Celeb Tots Call Their Grandparents!

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:45:35 PDT

Grandma, Mimi, Grammy? Most grandparents don't care what their grandkids call them, just as long as they actually call them! In Hollywood, where age and image are the name of the game, some grandparents put in special requests when it comes to their nickname. See if you can match the name with the celeb grandparents in our lil quiz here! Good luck!

Question 1 of 5

Which grandma goes by Glam-ma, rather than the traditional name?

Should Parents Be the Ones to Announce Baby's Debut to Other Children?

Heather Maddan — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 04:00:12 PDT

It's a boy or it's a girl, but who should tell the new addition's siblings? If mom and dad are in the midst of all the new baby bliss and hospital (or home birth) hoopla, is it the job of an outside party - a grandparent or family friend - to inform the big brother or sister? Some parents are particular in how they want to debut the news and others just believe in letting the information spread. What's your opinion?

Bethenny Frankel Sets Boundaries With the Grandparents; Have You?

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:30:06 PST

When is enough, enough? On the season premiere of Bethenny Ever After, the reality star spends a weekend trying to establish boundaries with her in-laws. The new grandparents, who live two hours away from baby Brynn's New York City home, express their desire to see their granddaughter every week, as well as holidays and special occasions. After several discussions on the matter, Bethenny, in her trademark way, reminds them that there are some things the family must celebrate and experience on their own. There's no denying the joy that babies bring to grandparents' lives, but some parents find that enthusiasm suffocating. Have you had to set limits with your tot's grandparents?

Guess the Tinseltown Grandparents!

Heather Maddan — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:00:05 PST

Hollywood has been welcoming babies for quite a while and as time passes some of Tinseltown's hottest actors have become grandparents. While they used to be the ones carrying the babies, now their grown children are filling the parental roles. See if you can guess which stars have gained grandparent status!

Take the Quiz

Lil Gift Guide: Best Gifts For Grandparents

LilSugar — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:00:08 PST

Grandma and grandpa may love the lil ones' daily art projects, but that doesn't mean they don't need something else during the holiday season. Celebrate the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren with these fun gifts that keep the conversations going all year long.

Clockwise from top left: The Grandparent Book ($12) is the perfect spot for grandparents to record their memories for the next generation. Oeuf's Squeeze Me Mittens ($60) make walking hand in hand a fun new experience for lil ones and their elders. The eco-friendly alpaca wool mittens allow a tot to hold on tight during a cold weather stroll. Grandparents will love walking kids through their family history with Famille Summerbelle's photo family tree ($65), which can be updated with new photos as the tots grow up. Kodak's Pulse Digital Picture Frame ($109) allows distant families to email images directly to the frame for grandparents to view throughout the day. It's ideal for grandparents who aren't exactly computer-savvy! Give grandparents what they want the most - the gift of time - with an annual membership to a local children's museum, kid-friendly rec center, or craft studio, such as NYC's Make Meaning, where memberships only cost $36 for a year's worth of studio time.

George Bush Is Disappointed He Doesn't Have Grandchildren

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:40:00 PST

"So when are you going to start a family?" The questions often start after wedding rings are exchanged. Whether a couple has decided to wait to have children or they're having difficulty conceiving, prying friends, family, and strangers can often put unwanted pressure on a husband and wife.

In the upcoming issue of AARP magazine, former President George W. Bush addressed the possibility of becoming a grandfather:

I'm a little disappointed it hasn't happened yet. But the more disappointment I show, the less likely it is things are going to happen on the time table I want.

Who hounded you the most about becoming pregnant?