REVIEWS
Being a Distance Grandparent - A Book for ALL Generations
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READERS' REVIEWS
I loved this book and Helen’s powerful message of acceptance for a grandparenting journey that might not be what you envisioned, but is very possible, from a distance. By drawing on academic research, interviews with grandparents and her personal experience, Helen provides an in-depth and thoughtful look at what it feels like to be grandparenting from a distance. You will recognise yourself, your emotions and your story in this book - and when you are finished it, you are sure to feel less alone. I devoured your book. May I collect a bunch for some friends? While globalization has brought many new opportunities for families to explore the world, it has also brought new challenges. What happens when these global journeys result in generations who used to live near one another are now separated by Oceans? How do family relationships survive and thrive in this 'new normal'? This book tackles these hard questions and offers clear strategies for families can successfully navigate these previously uncharted waters.” This book is a comprehensive and expansive look at what it is to live far away from your grandkids all the while maintaining that singular closeness we all yearn for. Ellis, a seasoned distance grandmother herself, provides great tips, perspective, and a lot of empathy for anyone who is a global or distance grandparent. Even as a third-generation Distance Grandparent, through both circumstance and choice, I learnt from this book. Helen Ellis has encapsulated the issues - the complexities, the unpredictables but also the joys by helping the reader understand that ultimately Being a Distance Grandparent is a balancing act. This splendid book is a must read for anyone living and working abroad, as well as those considering a long distance move or transfer to a foreign country! Helen's writing is comprehensive and lucidly organized. She has elegantly combined research, anecdotal evidence, and personal experience, as a distance mother and grandmother to create a significant resource for expatriates, repatriates and third culture kids (TCK's). I wish I had read this book before our first translocation. This book is a well-structured, informative and knowledge based read about distance grandparenting. Throughout the book Helen offers a broad range of perspectives as a New Zealander distance grandparent which gives a very authentic yet disciplinary approach to the understanding of the topic. With her honesty and personal voice the book becomes a very enjoyable easy reading. It is a must-read for each member of a distance family, a book you should read over and over again." I have now finished reading the well researched, informative book on Distance Families written by my author friend, Helen Ellis. |
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In our mobile world, more young people are growing up in communities and countries away from their grandparents and extended family. In this fascinating book, a distance grandparent discusses the hot topics related to addressing grief, building emotional resilience, supporting distance children and grandchildren, handling rituals, navigating the uncertainty of ageing and more. As a physician and parent who has raised children around the globe, this book provides thoughtful advice for those who are navigating cultures, moves and generations. I received your book and I have already read the half of it. This is a book I wish I could have put in my parents' hands and read myself when I found out I was pregnant. We could have referenced these things over the last decade, but I didn't get to have that and neither did my family. But at least other families can now. I am looking forward to sharing this book, and future books, with distance sons, daughters, grandchildren and distance grandparents so they can focus on keeping connections across the distance. The demography of high income societies in the 21st century is fascinating in its implications. This book deals with an aspect that has received little attention, distance grandparenting. It provides an engaging account of the issues and helps answers the questions about “why” as well as the “how to”. I thoroughly recommend this book, both for those who are already “distance grandparents” and for those who are interested. Distance grandparents and their families will find much to learn from in this useful and personable book. Helen Ellis clearly knows the territory, and lays out a road map that points out emotional challenges, common family dynamics and practical advice, from what to have in the guest room during family visits to how to manage time zone differences. I have been a distance grandparent for the last 20 years to my son's four children, who live in Scotland. This book illustrates many useful hints and tips to keep the pathways of communication open. It is both amusing and thought-provoking, and I wish I had had the opportunity to read it years ago. Helen provides an in-depth approach using academic research as her base. It is amazing that Helen's book is out when we need it the most. Having raised our own children as expats the information is irreplaceable. Many of us are dealing with multi-generational distance familying without any resource books out there. Every distance family member (and the professionals supporting them) should read this book! Being a Distance Grandparent fosters mutual understanding and empathy between generations through rich testimonials and precious practical tips. It is the best gift you could offer somebody separated from their family: allowing them to find a sense of belonging, and tools to create meaningful change in their relationships. In the book Distance Grandparents, Helen develops the concept of distance families and offers a comprehensive and readable framework for international migrants. Helen has combined her own personal experience, anecdotal evidence, and research to create this resource! This book is so important to help all generations to understand each other. I really enjoyed reading it and will recommend it to all my Solo Parenting Expats." This is going to be the book every international family didn’t know they needed.” The book covers myriad issues such as the best strategies for good communication, dealing with guilt, family dynamics, and remaining emotionally resilient. Nurturing relationships may be hard with grandchildren who develop different accents (or even languages) , traditions, expectations and have little or no experience with what the grandparents regard as the ‘home’ country. It is a book that provokes much reflection on the nuances of long distance relationships within families, and two further books are planned for the children’s and grandchildren’s understanding. I loved this book. It is full of practical, valuable information with so many real life stories. A must read for any families who are separated by distance. My grandsons are in the same city but I still gathered great advice and practical tips. The fabulous tips on international travelling at the end was a real bonus. I liked the author and her stories, and I respected her authority on the subject - even though I'm not a grandparent and I don't have grandchildren.... your book resonated with me. In places I was tearful. It's also given me some very helpful perspective. You came across as a really caring person in the book and I found myself very inspired to improve my relationship with all generations of my family...I found it an emotional read having lived in so many different places... Developing a deeper relationship with my grandparents was part of a wider project of mine to regain that English identity, and it was so rewarding to read sections of your book that discuss the importance of inter-generational relationships. I really came away from the book realising that family is absolutely also a verb, something we have to invest in and take time to reap its rewards. |
