A Special Gift Being a grandparent or stepgrandparent is one of the special joys of growing older. Grandparenting can take on many forms today. Distance, divorce, and working parents have all made a difference in grandparenting in the 1990s. Many of today's grandparents and stepgrandparents must deal with their children living at a great distance rather than down the street or across town. The traditional ways of staying in touch include letters, phone calls, and visits.
Many families have children spend a week or so with their grandparents during summer vacation.
Often several generations take vacations together to renew family ties. Today's grandparents may use video cameras to share information with their grandchildren. Whatever way grandparents use to keep in touch with their families, the connection between the generations helps both the young and the old. Divorce has come to mean change and adjustment for more and more children. Parents may be so involved with their own feelings that they may not have the time to help children deal with their emotions.