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Home › Articles › Becoming a Step-Grandparent › A "Step" in the Right Direction

A "Step" in the Right Direction

Taking an Active Role as Stepgrandparent

By Sue Marquette Poremba

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

What's in a Name?
One of the areas where conflict often comes up is deciding on a name for the child to call the stepgrandparent. Oftentimes the grandparents or parents make the decision, insisting on the familiar "grandma" or something formal, such as Mr. Jones or Dr. Bob. However, to help the relationship get off to a smooth beginning, the stepgrandparent and the stepgrandchild should come up with a name that is comfortable for both of them.

"Each family must do what works best for them, so there is no one solution," McWhorter Sember says.

In Kathy Goldfein's situation, for example, she is called Bubbi Kathy by her stepgrandchildren, while the children's natural grandmother is called Bubbi Ima (Ima meaning "mother").

"Bubbi in Yiddish means grandmother," Goldfein says. By using this nickname, the children show respect for their elders, plus keep a sense of family unity without hurting anyone's feelings.

Developing the Relationship
Once this hurdle is overcome, Browning has other suggestions for developing an amiable relationship between stepgrandparents and stepgrandchildren:

  • Don't compete with the other grandparents. From the very beginning, my stepmother cherished her role as a grandmother, but she defers to my mother's place in the children's lives. It makes family get-togethers more comfortable, and the kids don't feel like they must divide their loyalties.


    • Pages:  1  2  3  4  

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