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Home › Articles › Becoming a Grandparent › Good Grandparents

Good Grandparents

Changing with the Times

By Kelly Burgess

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  • Don't cool food on the counter. Today's appliances can handle warm food and cool it down quickly. Store food in shallow containers so it cools evenly and completely.
  • If it's moldy, discard it. Do not cut mold off cheese or any other food and then eat it or serve it to others. If you can see mold, it's gone a lot further into the food than is visible.
  • Do not use the same cutting boards and utensils to cut meat and then vegetables or fruit. Meat, especially poultry, has a high incidence of bacteria. If the cutting boards or knives are not washed in between use, the bacteria can transfer to the fruits or vegetables.
  • Change towels daily. The dishcloths, sponges and washcloths used in the kitchen should be changed daily to prevent bacterial build up. Sponges can be tossed in the dishwasher, as can vegetable brushes, and even the sink stopper.
    • A Meeting of the Minds
    It's important to be aware of cultural changes, such as safety issues, that directly affect you as a grandparent, but what's even more important is to be sure you fit into the vision your adult child has of you as a grandparent. If the parent wants you to do things one way, and you're determined to do it your way, pent-up resentment can lead to real problems down the road. Arthur Kornhaber, director of the Foundation for Grandparenting, has seen too many situations spiral out of control that simple communication could have prevented.

    "A grandparent can really set a good example from the beginning by sitting down with their children before the first grandchild even arrives and determine what role they want to have in their grandchild's life, and where they fit in with the parents' plans," Kornhaber says. "Grandparents need to continue to be sensitive to the needs of the parents as the grandchild grows, to be sure they are going along with their child-raising philosophy."

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