Cynthia G. Kane from It’s Their Turn joins this week’s conversation to discuss the importance of excellent communication between parents and grandparents. Cynthia brings her background as a genetic counselor to help parents and grandparents who are daily caregivers to their grandchildren align with the adult children’s caregiving expectations.
As we discuss Cynthia’s background in leading complicated AND clarifying conversations, we learn that unsaid expectations or assumptions often lead to a relationship breakdown. We also discuss how grandparents usually strongly desire to know their grandchildren and be known by them. This desire can sometimes lead grandparents to use old information and assumptions about childcare. These assumptions and information are not wrong, but when it comes to new health and safety information, they can inadvertently lead to negative outcomes.
Why it might seem that we are talking primarily about what grandparents need to do to increase their knowledge and understanding of current safety and caregiving information, we talk about how parents need to be sure not to make assumptions that grandparents want to be full-time child caregivers. Often, grandparents may have other expectations and plans for their time that may not involve being a full-time, daily babysitter.
The misalignment of expectations causes friction in the parent-grandparent relationship. Cynthia is passionate about working with people to ensure they are on the same page regarding being respected and heard and recognizing their value. Cynthia’s group, It’s Their Turn, provides tools and resources that people can use to help with conversations between parents and grandparents. She also collaborates with our mutual friend, DeeDee Moore, at More than Grand by contributing to an advice blog for new parents and grandparents.
Once you have listened to this intriguing conversation with Cynthia, please be sure to connect with her using one of the links below. Also, please share this conversation with three family members and friends who would enjoy Cynthia’s wisdom and insights into building great communication bridges.
Links
Use this link to visit It’s Their Turn: https://itstheirturn.com/
You can use this link to visit More Than Grand: https://www.morethangrand.com/
This link will take you directly to the advice blog on More Than Grand, called Grand Advice: https://www.morethangrand.com/blog/category/Grand+Advice
Cynthia has a great article in the Bay Area Parent, starting on page 20. You can use this link to access this online magazine: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=0da24ef8-8023-4337-b80c-247998852919
More Than Grand 
Grandfathers have a unique and meaningful role to play in grandchildren’s development, yet they often find themselves behind the scenes, on the sidelines, or less engaged than they’d like to be. This masterclass delivers a playbook for helping grandfathers level up their influence and impact. Listeners to The Cool Grandpa Podcast can receive 40% off this course by using Cool40 at checkout.
Founded in 2011 by Aaron Larsen as a way to honor his grandparents, GrandparentsAcademy.com is the world’s first and only online academy dedicated to helping grandparents grow meaningful relationships and rich legacies with their loved ones.
