Congratulations, you're a grandparent or you are about to be one! It is a great deal and an event you may have been anticipating for a very long time. This transition gives problems as well as pleasure. Right here are ten tips to help you steer clear of usua; new-grandparent problems and handle your new role with grace ad flair.

As much as you can, remain positive, be adaptable, and go with the flow.

Focus on supporting the expecting parents, rather than telling them what you want. They will appreciate it.

Listen and defer.

No matter how many kids you raised or how they turned out, your grownup child and his or her spouse are now in charge of the childrearing. Be careful about giving thoughts or suggestions unless of course you’re asked directly. And even then, tread lightly and express yourself gently.

Go easy on buying stuff for the baby.

With a new grandchild on the way, it’s so tempting to go on a shopping spree. But before you do, ask first the mother and father-to-be what they need, what they do not want, and whether there’s a baby registry or wishlist you can consult before you purchase something. Or, if they want to wait around to shop until after the baby is born.

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While we take on our new journey of grandparenthood and learn how to be best at it, we believe enjoying our relationship with our grandchildren is one of the best things in the world. We all want to make the most of time we get to spend with our grandkids. As grandparents, we want to create deep, loving relationships with them by sharing the things we love and by discovering what excites them.

So, whether you’re a full-time grandparent, a step-grandparent, or a long distance grandparent living thousands of miles away, there are new ways you can strengthen family ties and provide your grandchildren with joyful memories and valuable life lessons.

Here are some tips on how you can build great relationships with your grandkids:

Tip 1: Share your interests or your work

One way of building relationship with your grandkids is by doing hobbies and activities that you love or your grandchild loves. Sometimes, activities that you might not expect them to enjoy, like knitting or gardening, might turn out to provide an important point of connection for you. Also, if you take  interest in something that they’re passionate about, like Harry Potter or trading cards, they get to share their special area of knowledge, and they may open up to you in new ways.

In the event that you’re still working, bringing them to your workplace adds a new dimension to your grandchild’s perception of you. If you’re retired, showing them pictures and sharing stories about what your working days were like can do the same.

Tip 2: Go outside

We all know that children love the outdoors, and trips to the beach or the park can be wonderful adventures and happy memories for you and your grandkids. Activities, like nature walks and day hikes can provide lots of interesting things to talk about. You can also try water activities which are especially fun. Simply watching the current or throwing stones into the water are simple activities that can be fascinating to them. You can do these activities with them while they are toddlers, and then expand the games and experiences as they get older.

Tip 3: Grandparenting on the road

Going on a trip with your grandchildren or sharing your love of a favorite place will also help you create lasting memories together. Whether it’s a staycation in a nearby hotel, a day trip to a national park, or a week-long resort vacation, your grandkids will always be remember it as a special journey with grandma or grandpa.

Visit GrandparentsLink.com  to  find out 2 more tips on Grandparenting Better.

If you’ve been a grandparent for quite a while now, you know by now that the role is ever evolving as the children grow. This is true for the parents of your grandkids because they too are constantly growing and learning as parents, wearing the hats that so many of us shared as parents years ago.

But, how can one be great at being a grandparent? Are there really rules to follow? Our answer is, yes, definitely! So, if you are one of the few who want to know what those rules are, scroll down below. We listed our top 3 rules because we guarantee at some point or time the manual for grandparenting is long in the circular file somewhere unreachable!

Here are our top 3 rules to share, in no particular order:

#1 Pay attention to the parents’ rules. 
Yes, you have to accept and respect the parents’ rules, since it’s their child, their home and their life. They know what’s best for their kids. You had your chance to be the parents, now it’s their turn!

#2 Remember that you’re the grandparent, and not the parent. 
You must definitely earn the parents’ trust. The responsibility feels even greater than when you were a parent, because before, when driving your kids from place to place, you did not think twice about it. But now, you are not dealing with your own kids. They’re your children’s children, and that’s a bigger and more intense responsibility.

 #3 It’s not necessary to buy love.

Okay, this is a hard one. We like to do, and go, and buy. However, we can never buy quality time. And that’s why we need to seize every moment and just be present. Reading a book, playing a game together, singing your favorite songs — these are all memories that money can’t buy. It is best not to create the association that you always have gifts for them. This is definitely not a good example any child will benefit from.

Visit Grandparents Link to get seven more important Grandparenting Rules.