Customer Reviews

How to Be the Perfect Grandma

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I bought this book, planning to give it to my mother-in-law, who is a grandmother-to-be (I'm 3 months pregnant). It had gotten positive reviews from others, and sounded cute and humorous. After reading it, however, I did not find it cute or humorous. It is basically a collection of one grandmother's anecdotes about two of her grandkids, along with quasi-generalized advice about being a grandmother. I understand that some of the book was meant to be written with a satirical tone, but advice such as, "never let anything bad happen to the kids on your watch...but as we all know bad things happen to good grandmothers...if it's just you and the child, lie," and "check with your grandchildren to make sure you are winning the grandma race [against the child's other grandma]...if...they say they like the other one better, buy them something they've been wanting..." just doesn't strike me as being very funny--more like irresponsible and mean-spirited. I suppose some readers will find this humorous, but this definitely is not my brand of humor.

I only needed to see a few pages of this book to know that I didn't like the "rules" the author was prescribing to grandmothers out there. Anyone who tries to get a child to lie to his/her parents about anything is not worthy of the opportunity to care for the child unattended. This is the number one rule we all try to teach our kids, isn't it? Don't lie to Mommy or Daddy and don't trust anyone who tells you to lie. Right? As for grandparents lying about something bad happening, what if the child needs medical care that the grandparent is not aware of? Grandmothers don't know everything because they raised kids who didn't die or lose a limb on their watch. A lot of moms are aware that things have changed since our parents raised us, sometimes it's for a good reason: seat belts, medical warnings, recalls, lead paint, SIDS, etc. A mom & dad have the right to know if anything, ANYTHING has happened to their child. And any grandparent who ignores the parent rules and implies their own once the "coast is clear" is setting a path for confusion for the grandchild they so want to indulge. My mother-in-law is a love, really, but she insists on giving my 17month-old pill bottles to shake and play with like a rattle which I think sends the wrong message. We aren't trying to ruin our kids lives or make them miserable. We are trying to be good parents. Help us out, grandparents! We want a helpful hand, loving arms for our kids, not someone who challenges or criticizes our decisions. This book isn't funny or charming. In the wrong hands it could be taken as advice and do real damage to a relationship.

I was hoping that this book would have a humorous, yet practical, view of grandparenting. Unfortunately there is no tongue-in-cheek here. The author admitted that she is not the least bit interested in her kids....or what they have to say about parenting...only cares about her grandkids. In one passage she actually stated that she wanted to kill a cat. Also, the only rule that she has in her home is "No Whining," one that can only benefit her, how about no fighting, etc. I was very troubled by her suggestion of having children lie to their parents. I also found it interesting that most of the 5 star reviews were posted within days of each other, shortly after the book was published, by authors with similar (bad) writing styles. Save your money.

As a MOTHER, I found this book to be appalling. It's not funny or cute. My mother-in-law received this book at my baby shower for my first baby and has taken it seriously and as a MOTHER of MY CHILD, I'm here to tell you, after I read through the book and after hearing her comments about it, she doesn't keep the baby anymore. Grandparents are not parents. They had their chance, and this ignorant book condones grandmothers sticking their nose where it doesn't belong. Any grandmother that follows the "rules" in this book is asking never to see their grandchild again!!!!

the picture on the front should have been enough to realize this book would be about spoiling a gradnchild an trying to usurp a parent's right to parent. this book is basically a sarcastic (i hope) attempt to be funny about all the bad grandmother's out there. lying and manipulating your grandchildren will only equal less time with the grandchildren. as a first time mom with a first time grandmother, i read this book and it terrified me to think that these things will happen. i would never trust this woman with my children, ever. horrible ideas, which are considered rules? and winning a race against the other grandmother? is that what we want our children to learn? horrible horrible!!

Having to deal with a mother-in-law who has the same mentality as this author, I can say how much pain this kind of "grandmothering" has caused our family. The kind of self-centered, boundless, and mean-spirited behavior this book suggests has caused a rift between my husband and his mother and we have decided to remove her from our family dynamic. Very very sad as it could have been so different. Every child deserves to learn healthy relationship patterns and this author clearly has no regard for her grandchildren's development - only her own, selfish, devious, and lonely needs.

If anything, this is a great example of what not to do for a grandma.

I am a mother-in-law and grandmother of two adorable children. I would not define a "perfect grandma" as one who lies and manipulates. This book was a lesson on both along with the author bragging about how perfect she is as a grandmother. I did not find this book funny, but rather sad and disturbing.

The perfect guide for helping grandmas to be the perfect grandma, to enjoy their grandchildren without being a nosey or bossy grandma no one wants around.

this book brings smiles and sometimes belly laughs as one navigates the trials of grandmotherhood. it makes a terrific gift for any age grandmother.

I bought this book and fell down laughing, so I bought it for all my friends, new grandmas, experienced grandmas, even one grandma-to-be.The author has shared her anecdotes and they are hysterical. In the mix, are tips on grandmothering and advice on how to follow the rules laid down by our grandchildren's parents without losing our minds. If you like humor with an edge, you'll love this book.