Dr. Arthur Kornhaber is a foremost international authority on grandparenting and the grandparent-grandchild relationship, and the author of many books, scientific papers, and lay articles dealing with child and family issues. He writes and speaks widely to lay and professional audiences to raise "grandparent consciousness." A recipient of various awards, Dr. Arthur Kornhaber is a national and international consultant on social and psychiatric issues to the media, corporations and the United States Congress. He is a Life Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Life member of the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Arthur Kornhaber's latest book The Grandparent's Guide (McGraw-Hill) will be published in May 2002.

1.) What is your background and how did you come to specialize in the field of grandparenting?
I became interested in grandparent issues in 1970 when a youngster came to my office that was having trouble with everyone in his world except his grandparents. Since my research into grandparenting turned nothing up on the topic I decided to research the issue myself to probe the mystery of that "secret ingredient." After many years of study and research, I published my first book in 1981 and started the Foundation for Grandparenting in 1982.

2.) Since you've been working with grandparents, what is the most significant change you've noticed among grandparents? How has society's attitude towards grandparents changed?
Grandparenting is an unfolding role that is internally affected by a longer life span, and externally, by changing family forms, geographic distance, and the increase in family diversity. Destructive social forces make it imperative that grandparents, using their "grandparent power," get deeply involved with their families and communities as agents of helping and healing. To this end, over the years it was necessary to establish laws supporting the grandparent-grandchild bond. Grandparent consciousness has been raised and new metaphors for traditional grandparenting functions have been created. Millions of grandparents are helping with the rearing of their grandchildren; mentor programs are growing, grandparent classes are being established nationwide, and much more.

3.) What is the biggest challenge that grandparent's face these days?
The biggest challenge grandparents face today is

• To realize they are new generation never before seen on the earth.
• To understand their critical important to family and society.
• To grow and change in order to adapt to a rapidly changing society and family structure.
• To balance their lives effectively enough to be available to grandchildren (and children too).
• To realize that their grandparenting role offers a template for living a meaningful and useful old age.

4.) What do you like about the Grandparenting: Enriching Lives video... what do you hope grandparents will take away from it?
The grandparenting video showcases some of the joys and challenges facing grandparents today in a very understandable and relevant way. Hopefully, this information will serve as a model not only to validate grandparent's experience, but also to offer guidance to help grandparents deal with their personal circumstances more effectively.

5.) If you could leave grandparents with an essential piece of advice, what would it be?

• Discard your former stereotypes about grandparenting and get up-to-date by learning all you can about modern grandparenting.
• Assess your own condition and that of your family.
• How do you make one another happy? Then do more of it.
• How do your children and grandchildren need you? Once you identify the needs, think about what changes you have to make in your own life to help. Then apply your "Grandparent Power" — your power of wisdom, experience, perseverance, and your long view of life — to help your family and community, and thus give importance, meaning and relevance to your life.