Here’s one group that’s going GaGa

Thursday, November 19, 2009 | by

Not all grandparent groups focus specifically or exclusively on Judaism or interfaith families.

One such group, the GaGa Sisterhood on the south Peninsula, has a broader mission – to “inspire grandmothers to continue growing and evolving along with their children and grandchildren so they can build lifelong meaningful relationships with them,” founder Donne Davis said.

The GaGa Sisterhood began six years ago, when Davis “went completely gaga” as she witnessed her first granddaughter being born. Not long thereafter she discovered that other grandmas were just as gaga — though not without dilemmas.

“I discovered that being a grandma was more complicated than I imagined and wondered what other grandmas were experiencing,” Davis said. “The role of the grandparent is way more complex than it used to be. It helps to talk to other grandparents about what we’re going through and to get advice and affirmation that we’re not alone in our feelings.”

The first meeting was so much fun, Davis said, that she decided to keep it going. Since then, the group has grown to about five dozen local members, most ranging in age from 50 to 70, and a handful of remote members who subscribe to Davis’ online newsletter, the GaGazine.

Davis, who will be the featured speaker at a grandparents discussion group at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills on Saturday, Nov. 21, is also hoping to start other GaGa Sisterhood chapters.

Although Davis is Jewish, only about one-quarter of the GaGa Sisterhood’s members are, so meetings tend to focus on secular subjects, such as long-distance grandparenting, traveling with grandchildren and creative ways to share family stories. The group has also discussed tougher topics, such as “when being a grandma isn’t so grand,” Davis said .

“That was one of our best meetings,” she added. “The subject of grandchildren never came up. It was all about our relationships with our children. We discussed the importance of not giving unsolicited advice and monitoring our observations, judgments, opinions and feelings when we don’t agree with what we see them doing.”

— marinell james

“Be a Go-to Grandparent, Whether You’re Near or Far” is from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Congregation Beth Am conference room, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. Free. More information: (415) 860-5150. GaGa Sisterhood information: Donne Davis, (650) 854-8587 or http://www.gagasisterhood.com.