The Special Mission of Grandparents: Hearing, Seeing, Telling

by C.Margaret Hall

Overview

By supporting and influencing their families and communities, grandparents—and those who act as grandparents—can play a key role in today's society. Their special mission is derived from a strong sense of purpose and direction that develops from making significant contributions to family life. These include compiling and recounting family histories, maintaining meaningful relationships among different generations, opening up family communications, explaining social changes, and participating in community life. With the aid of real-life examples of intergenerational family dynamics, the author—a clinical sociologist who has practiced family therapy for more than 25 years—presents principles, techniques, and perspectives for today's grandparents.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780897896726
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/30/1999
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

C. MARGARET HALL is Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University, where she has also served as Department Chair and Director of Women's Studies. She has researched three-generation families for more than twenty-five years and has developed identity empowerment theory from her research and clinical data. Her publications include Women and Empowerment: Strategies for Increasing Autonomy (1992), New Families: Reviving and Creating Meaningful Bonds (1994) and Identity, Religion, and Values: Implications for Practitioners (1996).

Table of Contents

Starting Points
Becoming a Grandparent
The Special Mission of Grandparents
Hearing
Seeing
Telling
Being a Special Agent
Balanced Families
Traditional Families
Families in Conflict
Dysfunctional Families
Distant Families
Fragmented Families
Blended Families
Accomplishing the Special Mission
From Generation to Generation
Leaving a Legacy
Giving Back to Society
Suggested Reading
Index

Editorial Reviews

Hall (sociology, Georgetown U.) argues that grandparents have a special mission in today's society: it is they who must compile and recount family histories, maintain meaningful relationships among the different generations, facilitate family communications, and explain social changes. She uses contemporary examples of intergenerational family life from her experiences as a family therapist, to describe how grandparents can support and influence their families and communities. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews