The news has broken and now the wait is on: soon enough, you’re going to be a grandparent and going to take on a whole new role in life, both with your adult child and with the child to be born. Are you ready? Do you know what issues you’ll likely encounter, either in helping the new parents or providing care for the newborn? Well, there’s advice to be found, if you know where to look. A recent piece in The New York Times by writer Paula Span shines a light on the availability of “grandparent” classes for those new to the role, with links to options in major urban areas. The wisdom shared in these classes includes striking a balance between being available without taking charge and asking how you can help without breaching boundaries set by new parents. Clear and candid communication of roles and responsibilities is key to sustaining nurturing relationships with all. When there’s miscommunication, attitudes can be affected- as an example, take a look at this provocatively titled piece in The Guardian, “I Have Come To Dread Looking After My Grandchild Each Week.”

If sitting in a classroom is not your thing, there are lots of written materials you can scan before meeting the newborn. You can start with the website Zero To Three, whose focus is supporting babies and toddlers in the first years of life and advising those who care for them, which these days likely includes a grandparent or two. Or for something simpler, take a look at this post on GrandyCamp, which provides a list of tasks to undertake, starting with the moment the baby is born.

And if you’re desperate to find welcome gifts for your first grandchild? You can never go wrong with a sweet and sensitive book, even for babies who soon enough will be able to focus on colors and shapes. The GrandyCamp article provides several suggestions for newborns, and if you’re thinking longer term, take a look at this recent list of the Best Children’s Books for Children for 2019 from The New York Times.