The Long Distance Grandmother 4 Ed: How to Stay Close to Distant Grandchildren (Paperback)

by Selma Wassermann (Author) "MY GRANDMOTHER was the most important person in my early childhood..." (more)
Key Phrases: old bubbe, personal word books, ideal grandma, Mary Beth, New York, Grandmother Comes (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
While it’s easy to say, “Write a letter, pick up the phone, send an email,” it’s difficult to know what to talk about with a three-year-old grandchild who lives across the country or a nine-year-old who’s too busy with after-school activities to keep in touch. This guide to long-distance grandparenting is full of ideas for maintaining relationships with far-flung grandkids. A new chapter gives ideas on using the Internet.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Hartley & Marks Publishers; 4th edition (May 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881791881
• ISBN-13: 978-0881791884
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #228,895 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding, readable book for grandparents, near or far., July 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Long Distance Grandmother: How to Stay Close to Distant Grandchildren (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful guide to creating good relationships with grandchildren, even if they live in the same city with you! Mrs. Wassermann's ideas are creative, simply expressed, and easy to implement. They are not expensive or elaborate, and anyone can be successful at them. I have used many of her ideas with my own grandchildren and have given this book to many friends. It makes a great gift for new grandparents, too

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grandma Hall of Fame nominee!, January 12, 2003

By A Customer

I found this book at the library when I most needed it, and could hardly believe my luck - I'm buying a copy from Amazon to send to my parents, who feel they have little connection to our daughter despite our visits to Europe, exchanging of photos, etc. They are "deeply hurt" that she shows little interest in coming to the telephone when they call and give me a guilt trip about it, which I refuse to pass on to her. Guilt trips do not make for good heirlooms! I am open to suggestions however, and in this book Mrs. Wassermann offers the kind of priceless wisdom that I thought only exist in stories, and her ideas are wonderful and very easy for all parties to use. They can also be applied to a long distance relationship with a niece/nephew - I have a niece in Europe and was happy to read that I have been doing exactly what Mrs. Wassermann suggests. Respect & No guilt are the two key phrases here. Grandparents need to respect their children and grandchildren, and in return they will most likely have a wonderful long distance relationship with everyone. If there were more people like Mrs. Wassermann, surely there would be far greater numbers of happy families. The edition I checked out at the library is from 1988, and apparently the 1st edition - I am happy to see that there is now a 4th edition: Mrs. Wassermann struck a nerve back then, and her book is truly timeless.
Note: My parents both speak decent English, albeit with an accent, but there is not the language barrier that other overseas grandparents might have with their grandchildren.