In 1978, Helene Block Fields started a volunteer grandparent program. In l980, she became convinced that intergenerational programs for children and older adults were crucial for the well-being of both generations and in l985, she founded the Oakton Center for Family Education.

Since then Helene Block Field's work has focused upon several kinds of "hands on" grandparenting activities, including a monthly grandparent discussion/support group that continued for eight years until her retirement in l993.

A grandparent/grandchild advocate, her seminars, presentations, consulting, publications, and video testify to her belief that strong family relationships can be the bedrock of positive self-esteem for all. Her work is widely known and she has received numerous awards. Her current interest lies in providing joint learning opportunities for grandparents and parents.

1.) What is your background and how did you come to specialize in the field of grandparenting? Why did you decide to become an expert in this area?
Intergenerational programs became my passion in 1978 when I helped start a volunteer grandparent program at Oakton Community College. I spent a one-year sabbatical in 1980 investigating grandparenting and parenting programs, which led me in some new directions:

• The college supported my efforts to expand the volunteer grandparent program on and off campus. It started with four grandparents and grew to over 80 volunteers.
• In 1982, I created the Center for Family Education in order to fill unmet family needs by providing lectures, presentations, articles, videos, and family activities for the community.
• In 1985, I began a monthly grandparent discussion/support group as a direct result of requests from a few grandparents who heard my lecture on the "Joys and Challenges of Modern Grandparenting." By word of mouth the group grew to 15-25 grandparents and continued until I retired, eight years later.

2.) Since you've been working with grandparents, what is the most significant change you've noticed?
Some things have changed and some things have stayed the same. New technology, lack of time to visit grandparents, new child development techniques, and an altered attitude toward elders have placed some grandparents in culture shock. However, the need for loving connections between the generations remains the same. If grandparent relationships with parents work, then grandparenting roles can work. If not, grandparents can be confused and hurt. They may be unaware of the generational differences in child rearing and the rights of parents to raise the children in their own way. Supportive services are needed in this fast-paced society to assist families to build and rebuild relationships.

3.) What is the biggest challenge that grandparents face these days?
A daunting challenge for today's grandparents is to be willing to learn new approaches to replace outworn ones. By understanding grandchildren's developmental stages and evolving interests, grandparents can become powerful role models and partners in joint projects. Shared interests, hobbies, and activities are the "glue" for generational relationships, whether grandchildren are near or far away. Of course, long-distance grandparenting is obviously a difficult challenge, but joint projects can make use of e-mail, the web, and the mail. Visits should include one-on-one interactions which build life-long memories for both generations.

4.) What do you like about the Grandparenting: Enriching Lives video... what do you hope grandparents will take away from it?
I like the video's positive tone, practical suggestions, and respect for grandparents' influence and contributions to the entire family. This video makes it clear that when grandparents spend time with grandchildren doing some kind of cooperative activity or project, they become what I call "Grandteachers." The video will help them recognize that they can play an important role in their grandchildren's emotional and intellectual development. It also gives fine examples of successful parent/grandparent relationships; it will also be a valuable teaching tool.

5.) If you could leave grandparents with an essential piece of advice, what would it be?
Be sure to ask yourself, "Are the grandparent/parent interactions in my family stress-producing or stress-relieving?" Evaluate your family dynamic, for the sake of your grandchildren.