Talk to Dr. Chafetz now : 469-233-5566
Paul K. Chafetz, PhD Clinical Psychology
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  • Home
  • Services
  • About
  • Contact
    • Send Dr. Chafetz a Message
    • Contact Information >
      • Office Location
    • Upcoming Events
    • New patient registration forms
    • Site Map
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Articles
    • Quizzes
    • Other Media
  • Services
    • Adult Psychology >
      • Midlife Crisis Depression
      • Dealing With Empty Nest Syndrome
      • Adjustment To Retirement
      • Caregiver Support
      • Dealing with Adult Children
      • Dealing with Elderly Parents
      • Dealing With Difficult Relatives
      • Authority and Responsibility in Families
      • Boomerang adult children
      • BOOM: Becoming one's own man
    • Health Psychology >
      • Depression Psychotherapy
      • Anxiety Therapy
      • Insomnia Therapy
      • Chronic Illness Therapy
      • Pain Management Therapy
    • Psychology of Life >
      • Self-Esteem Therapy
      • Stages of Life Psychology
      • Assertiveness Therapy
      • Psychology of Forgiveness
      • Family Psychotherapy
      • Birth Order Psychology
    • Clinical Gero-Psychology >
      • Grief Therapy
      • Dementia Therapy
      • Coping with Senility
    • Forensic Gero-Psychology >
      • Competence to sign a will
      • Contesting a will
      • Guardianship
      • Vulnerability to exploitation
    • Need a speaker?
  • Past Events

Grandparenting

Although many new grandparents consider themselves too young for the role, most welcome it and find great pleasure in interacting with their grandchildren.  Researchers have identified several styles of grandparenting.  The most widespread style is called formal, involving a hands off approach.  Other styles are fun seeker, distant, surrogate parent, and reservoir of family wisdom.

In his psychology practice, Dr. Chafetz has observed that being a grandparent can have a frustrating dimension.  This occurs when the grandparent, upon observing the parenting behavior of their grown children, feels that the middle generation is making poor parenting decisions.  If the middle generation is not open to parenting suggestions from their own elderly parents, the grandparents, although perhaps wiser, really have no choice but to back off and let the younger generations learn from their own choices.  Unless the grandparents are in fact shouldering a good bit of responsibility for the grandchildren (in the form of money, babysitting, carpooling, etc.), the grandparents have no standing, or authority, to impose their will on the younger generations.  That authority belongs to the middle generation.

Even in this case, however, it is often possible for grandparents to increase their influence on adult children, by refining their ability to use finesse, or the "soft sell" approach to expressing their opinions.
Phone : 469.233.5566
Email :
PKChafetz@gmail.com
Paul K. Chafetz, PhD: Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist
Office Location: 8340 Meadow Rd., #134, Dallas, TX  75231