GRAND Magazine - September/October 2016 - 21

cover story

CONNECT WITH GRAND

Continued from previous page

I'll work to put familyfriendly policies in place-
like paid leave, affordable
child care and universal
pre-K. I've proposed tax
credits to help families
defray the cost of caring
for an ill or aging family
member.

project-these are all
great ways to spend
time together and
instill the values of civic
participation.

GRAND: What and who
influenced you to become
the kind of mother and
grandmother you are?
What kind of role model
would you like to be?
HC: My mother was an
GRAND: With more than 70 million
incredible role model in so
grandparents in the United States
many ways. She was extraoralone, we have serious political
dinarily wise, and she had
and social clout. How do you think
such a big heart. She and
today's grandparents can best influChelsea were very close-
ence our youngest generation, and
they talked every day. She
those to come? What would you
took such a keen interest in
like to see us do?
everything Chelsea was doing
HC: I'm very passionate about
and was always there to listen
making sure we educate families
and offer advice. I want to
about singing, talking, and reading
have that same relationship
to their babies to help them build
with my grandchildren.
Hillary, Dorothy, and Chelsea Clinton
brain cells and vocabulary. This
GRAND: With your busy
is really important. We now know
schedule, how do you-and
that 80 percent of your brain is physically formed by the age of
how will you-make the
three. Much of your vocabulary is already acquired by the age
most of your time with your grandchildren? Is there anyof five. This is something grandparents can help families focus
thing you and Charlotte especially like to do together?
on to make sure we're setting kids up to be successful when
they get to Kindergarten and to put them on the right track for HC: I do everything I can to work visits into my campaign schedule. If we're in the area, I always make time
the rest of their education.
to go see them. I miss them all the time when I'm on
And I think there's a lot we can do to teach our grandthe road.
kids about being good citizens. Reading the newspaper
And thank goodness for FaceTime, which I always
together, going to the polls, taking part in a community service
say was invented for grandparents. It's wonderful to
21 GRAND

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2016

Excerpt from the foreword of
"Good to Be Grand"
For Bill and me, being grandparents has been transformative.
I have found my singing voice again. When Chelsea was
eighteen months old, she reached her little finger up, put
it on my mouth, and said, "No sing, Mommy. No sing." But
Charlotte doesn't seem to mind.
I know we are neither the first nor the last people to feel the
sense of transformation and inspiration in being grandparents.
After all, new life gives you fresh perspective. It makes you
want to be the very best grandparents you can be.

-Hillary Clinton
be able to keep up on the phone and be part of all the milestones
I can't always see in person. There's nothing better after a long,
hard day than to see Charlotte pop up on the screen to say hello
with the help of her mom and dad. Sometimes we'll sing or read a
book over the phone. It's just the best.
GRAND: And she's a big fan of your singing. That's great.
What is one piece of advice you'd offer to new grandparents?
HC: Enjoy it-they grow up so fast! And invest in extra phone
storage, because you'll want to keep all of the photos and videos
you take. Trust me.
Editor's note: The Clinton family requested respect for the privacy
of their grandchildren and limited the photos of the babies accordingly.

Cheryl Harbour is the special editor of our
"My GRANDbaby" section and author of
Good to Be Grand: making the Most of your
Grandchild's First Year, a combination of
up-to-date information and grandparently
inspiration.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2016