The new grandmothers in our society are rarely elderly ladies who have acquired a lifetime of experience and are ready to pass their knowledge on to the next generation. Indeed, basic grandmothering skills are rapidly disappearing, so author Suzette Haden Elgin -- an experienced grandmother of ten -- has written this comforting, down-to-earth, compellingly readable book to insure a constant supply of competent, emotionally fulfilled grandmothers. Guided by the Grandmother Principles -- commonsense aphorisms ranging from "A grandmother is a safe haven" to "A grandmother is not a quarterback", she covers all aspects of grandmothering -- from ways of communicating successfully with children and grandchildren to coping with emergencies to recording one's family history. Whether you're a traditional granny whose grandchildren live down the block or an ultramodern grandmother who sees the grandkids once a year, The Grandmother Principles is so inspiring and filled with so much indispensable information and advice that you'll want to keep it close at hand at all times. Illustrated with delightful cartoons that underscore the joys and challenges of grandmotherhood, it makes the perfect gift for grandmothers to receive from their children and grandchildren or to give to themselves.