Generativity One and the Next Generation: Grand Parenting
Although we have known about its inherent joys for a long time, grand parenting apparently is “the new rage.” (For example, watch a movie such as The Princess Bride where grandpa played by Peter Faulk gets to read an enchanting story to his grandson.) We have known for many years about the new ways in which we get to relate to children as grandparents and about the “second chance” that some of us get to be loving and playful caregivers. One of us observed in an earlier book focusing on men and women in their 50s (Bergquist, Greenberg and Klaum, 1993) that many mid-lifers, especially men, find they do a better job and gain more gratification in their role as grandparent than in their role as parent.
The “new rage” is based on an opportunity for a first or second chance at being a caring caregiver. And it is also grounded in a newly-evolving opportunity to be a vital, healthy adult who is likely to live many years and savor numerous chances to be a high-quality grandparent and even great grandparent. Apparently, a new model is emerging based on the theme of vital grand parenting. Several years ago, an AARP Bulletin featured the actress, Jane Seymour, being a “glamourous 63-year-old who wears the label “grandmother” proudly.” (Graham, 2014, p. 10). In this article, the author declares that boomer women can redefine their role in contemporary society. We label this “rebooting” as the continuing role of Generativity One caregiving throughout our adult lives:
It’s a whole new form of grand parenting . . . thanks to the boomers. That 76 million-strong cohort has redefined just about everything it has touched, from childhood and adolescence to careerism and parenting—and, now, grand parenting as well. Boomer women in particular, who came of age during the feminist movement, have tended to shrug off traditional roles, opting instead to “have it all” – balancing jobs, hobbies and a supermom style of parenting that would have exhausted their own full-time mothers. So it’s not surprising that as their children have kids, these new grandmas are remaking the role in ways that differ dramatically from the nanas, nonnas, bubbes, amas and abuelas of yesteryear. [Graham, 2014, p. 10]
Similar narratives have been offered by a diverse set of notable women, ranging from Hillary Clinton to Whoopy Goldberg and Leslie Stahl. These serves as yet another example of Generativity One operating throughout our adult lives. It continues to play an important role for many of us, even as we grow older and engage the other three roles of generativity.
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