Welcome to GaGa Sisterhood

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Guide For Grandmas

When Being a Grandma Isn't So Grand - Author Donne Davis

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Whether you’re a brand-new grandma, a seasoned grandma, or a grandma-at-heart, you’ve come to the right place. The GaGa Sisterhood has a wealth of resources for grandmas who are totally “gaga” for their grandchildren.

As the founder of the GaGa Sisterhood, I’ve been curating resources for grandmas since I first became one in 2003. I know firsthand how complicated the role can be. When you and your grandchild’s parents begin the exciting journey of welcoming this precious new being into the family, your lives will be forever changed.

You will experience the highest highs and possibly the lowest lows as you grow into your title of “Grandma” or “Nana” or “Noni” or a host of other grandma names. Whether you’re “Kiki” or “Baba,” (my grandma name,) choosing your grandma moniker may be your first big decision.

Donne Davis

Donne Davis
Founder of
GaGa Sisterhood

The content on this website includes twenty years of blog posts that offer advice on how to begin this exciting new relationship, book recommendations, ways to stay connected with your grandchildren, long-distance grandparenting advice, self-care and much more.

Be sure to click on our Resources page, where you’ll find links to our favorite grandparent websites. On our Press page, you’ll find links to podcasts and articles featuring my conversations with hosts about the ins and outs of being a grandma.

How Ga Ga Sisterhood Was Born

History of GaGa Sisterhood

Idea grew out of passion for becoming a grandma

My idea for GaGa Sisterhood grew out of my passion for becoming a grandma after witnessing the birth of my first grandchild, Juliet on April 26, 2003.

Immediately, I wanted to find kindred sisters who shared my enthusiasm, and boy did I! So many grandmas have graced my life over 20 years — it’s hard to quantify.
For two decades GaGa Sisterhood was a growing national membership organization. The organization provided “gaga” grandmas a place to bond, brag, and benefit.

Contact Me

Contact me if you need an article on grandparenting, a guest on your podcast or a speaker for your organization.

For more than twenty years, I’ve been writing and speaking on the joys and challenges of modern grandparents as well as the importance of rituals and traditions for families.

Drop a note to me on the Contact Form.

Over the Years

From our first meeting on December 7, 2003 to our last farewell meeting on December 7, 2023, grandmas have shared their stories and touched my heart.

For two decades, the GaGa Sisterhood has always been a labor of love for me. I produced regular blog posts and newsletters for our growing audience of grandmas. Over the years, the format of the group evolved but my mission remained firm — to inspire grandmas to keep growing and learning along with our children and grandchildren.

Since COVID, it became more laborious trying to juggle two almost disparate groups — our original local Silicon Valley grandmas and our newer online community from all over the U.S. (sometimes even Australia) The other difference was the age of our grandchildren. Lots of our members felt they’ve “aged out” because their grandchildren were teenagers and older. Finding speakers and topics that appealed to all ages became more challenging.

As I faced these challenges, I realized it was time for me to step down from hosting regular meetings and bid farewell to our GaGa Sisterhood members.

20 years -December 7, 2003 to December 7, 2023

On December 7, 2023, our GaGa Sisterhood members met for our last formal meeting. While there will be some small, local franchised GaGa Sisterhood groups who will continue to meet in their local neighborhoods, we are no longer continuing GaGa Sisterhood as a national online membership organization.

Going forward

Many ask me what’s next? I’ll continue to enjoy my three precious grandchildren and family. I’ll write articles and do some speaking on some of my favorite topics — the joys and challenges of modern grandparenting and rituals and traditions. I’m available for podcasts, panels, and public speaking opportunities.

Contact me if you or your organization needs a speaker. I look forward to staying in touch.  Drop a note to me on our Contact Form.

GaGa Sisterhood Resources

Link to Blog- 20 years of blog posts to inspire grandmas to keep growing and learning

Link to Resources - GaGa Sisterhood’s favorite grandparent websites

Link to Media and Press Clippings - links to podcasts and articles featuring me and the GaGa Sisterhood

Ask GaGa - send a note to connect

Visit GaGa Sisterhood Blog

20 years of posts about topics grandmas need to know

Our Blog contains 20 years of grandparent-focused content. Below are excerpts from some random posts published during the past 20 years. Click on the excerpt link to read the entire post. Also, you can search all the posts by Topic, when you visit our Blog Page.

10 Tips for Improving Mother-Daughter Communication

By Donne Davis | January 20, 2011

Over the past year my daughter and I have gotten motivated to do some conscious work on understanding each other’s perspectives. Here are a few tips we’ve learned.

Read More »

Aunt Mary’s Rose

By Donne Davis | September 7, 2010

A moving and sweet story for children ages 4 – 8 that touches on some sensitive themes: the Great Depression, the loss of a family war hero, care taking, and endurance. But they’re lightened by Aunt Mary’s gentle storytelling and the promise of her apple pie.

Read More »

Teach Your Child How to Be a Good Loser

By Donne Davis | May 25, 2010

Help your child learn how to lose gracefully by being a good loser yourself, by weaning them off of the need to win every time, and by teaching them words to express their emotions.

Read More »

Visit With Your Grandchild … Virtually

By Donne Davis | May 13, 2020

Many parents of young children working from home have turned to screens to distract the children while they accomplish their work tasks. We grandmas can have virtual playdates to give our grandchildren some extra attention.

Read More »

Why Don’t Our Children Ask Us for Advice on Parenting?

By Donne Davis | June 19, 2017

One of the most common challenges I hear from grandmas is that their children don’t value their parenting experience and trust the Internet more than their parents.

Read More »

GaGa Sisterhood Celebrates Its 8th Year

By Donne Davis | December 15, 2011

Last week, 20 of our members celebrated the 8th anniversary of the GaGa Sisterhood. After lunch, we sat in a circle and told stories about what defines us as grandmas.

Read More »

Why Are Women So Obsessed With Their Bellies?

By Donne Davis | April 25, 2014

Women of all ages are obsessed with their bellies. We are way too harsh on ourselves. We need to break the cycle of self-criticism before it reaches the next generation.

Read More »

When Grandma Breaks the Parents’ Rules

By Donne Davis | April 7, 2015

When you’re watching your grandchild and break the parents’ rules, do you confess or let it slide and figure “what happens at grandma’s, stays at grandma’s?”

Read More »

Grandparenting on Purpose

By Donne Davis | December 30, 2021

Winn Egan, grandfather of 22 grandchildren and co-author of “Grandparenting on Purpose” believes that we can each create our own unique grandparenting style by deeply knowing ourselves and our grandchildren.

Read More »

How to Connect with Your Teenage Grandchild

By Donne Davis | April 24, 2018

If you’ve built a strong bond with your grandchild over the years, it can be tested during the pre-teen and teenage years. Now is when your patience, love and creativity may be needed more than ever before.

Read More »

Parentless Parents Book Discusses Raising Children Without Grandparents

By Donne Davis | March 3, 2011

Author Allison Gilbert explains how the absence of grandparents impacts everyday parenting decisions and the relationships they have with their spouses and in-laws.

Read More »

Managing Expectations in the Grandparent Relationship

By Donne Davis | October 28, 2021

Expectations in the new grandparent relationship are one of the most important conversations to have with the new parents and ideally before they become parents.

Read More »

Reading Is Going to the Dogs

By Donne Davis | March 15, 2011

Dogs have a calming and soothing effect on people. Reading to animals, who are inherently nonjudgmental, is a good way to promote this type of oral reading practice.

Read More »

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Wins Rave Reviews

By Donne Davis | March 6, 2009

Review of popular childrens book “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.”

Read More »

Build Relationships with the Gatekeepers

By Donne Davis | January 8, 2020

The best way to build relationships with your grandchild’s parents, AKA “gatekeepers” is to keep your comments to yourself and have your eyes and heart wide open.

Read More »

Confessions of a Selfish Grandma

By Donne Davis | October 28, 2019

When this grandma turned 60, she asked herself: what’s in my control, and forthcoming in my life to make me fuller, complete, happy and satisfied? To answer the question, she had to dig deep and look inside herself.

Read More »

GaGa Sisterhood in Top 10 Grandparent Websites

By Donne Davis | September 16, 2013

The GaGa Sisterhood has been recognized as one of the top 10 websites for grandparents in 2013 by GRAND Magazine.

Read More »

Grandmas Need a Sisterhood

By Donne Davis | August 15, 2016

Just like moms need to get together and talk, grandmas also need to talk to each other about the joys and challenges we face in our multi-generation relationships. Join the GaGa Sisterhood.

Read More »

6 Skills to Strengthen in 2021

By Donne Davis | January 4, 2021

When we’re conscious of our thoughts and actions, we’re able to make sounder decisions, build stronger relationships, and communicate more effectively. These six skills will help us to be our best grandma selves as we face new challenges.

Read More »

A Tyrannical Mother-In-Law Tale—Indian Style

By Donne Davis | May 7, 2012

In Indian tradition an expectant mother delivers her baby at her mother’s or mother-in-law’s home. A post-partum mom describes her stay with her tyrannical mother-in-law.

Read More »

Testimonals

“I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed yesterday’s meeting, my first. What a lovely, dynamic bunch of women!”… Susan

“Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity to join the GaGa sisterhood. I really enjoyed everyone and the common bond we all share in our own way as Grandmothers. It is surely a great group of women and I loved how open hearted everyone was, I felt very much at home”… Mary Beth

“I get many newsletters. By far, I’d say yours is one of the most interesting and useful” … Helga

“Usually I avoid groups, but the GaGa Sisterhood is very special and I enjoy the meetings, the subjects, and the other grandmas tremendously. Thank you for creating this group and keeping us going”… Carolyn

“Your Sisterhood organization information has been so helpful in preparing me for this unexpectedly rewarding time of life. Thank you” … Carolynn

“Thanks for sending the GaGazine. All of your tips and work are so valuable and fill such a need in uniting three generations”… Berna

“Your newsletter is consistently informative. I don’t know how you do it, but you write the best e-newsletters. I read every part of it. I am sorry that I missed this meeting, but your newsletter brought me up to date.  Thank you”… Carol

“Every meeting has offered something to take away with me ~ some little nugget of advice, some inspiration, a closer connection with another GaGa”… Susan

“You are in for lots of treats as our GaGa gatherings are always very enjoyable”… Kathleen

“After meeting all of you, I’ve been inspired by how you nurture your grandchildren and how GaGa Sisterhood is truly a place for us to be nurtured. You are a wonderful group of ladies and I am proud to have become a member”… Carol

“Your GaGazine is awesome!  Colorful, straightforward, and loaded with information”… Len

“The GaGazine is a real winner!”… Joyce

“You always produce an enjoyable must read. I look forward to every new issue. Keep up the Grand work!”… Christine

“I really had a transformative experience this afternoon! I came home and described the meeting in detail to my husband who was very interested and so pleased that I had this opportunity. The women were so open, and willing to share their experiences and caring attitudes! I will definitely join the group and hope to eventually bring some friends along too!”….Sue

“Thank you for being the very special, loving and caring person that you are. You are so generous to share your natural talents as our leader, to be better grandparents and people. We continue to learn much in many ways...from the speakers you bring to us, by the friendships and commonalities, to the fun and laughs, and even tears we share.  It is truly the very best, because of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear Donne”…. Carol

“You plan such lovely meetings for all of us. I have developed two new friendships from our group, for which I will be ever grateful”… Bev

“What a wonderful GaGa Sisterhood meeting! The way you organized it worked so well and the questions really generated discussion in a most meaningful way. Hats off to you for figuring out how to make it work!”… Marcia

“The GaGa Sisterhood provides not only a place to brag, bond and benefit, but also a place for support, sharing and just plain silliness as we explore who we are as active, involved and evolving grandmothers”… Susan

“I feel very fortunate to have discovered GaGa Sisterhood while visiting my daughter who recently moved to California from the East Coast where I live. I’ve attended just a couple of meetings so far but those meetings and the women I’ve met there have helped me feel more at home at “my home away from home”. Because of this, I am trying to time my future visits to the West Coast, whenever possible, to match the bi-monthly GaGa Sisterhood meetings”… Marcia

“I love the speakers who present at our GaGa Sisterhood meetings.  They are always the highest caliber professionals and they always have something really interesting to say”… Carol

“I really enjoy meeting with this group of women. They are far more informed than the grandma’s of yesteryear. Moreover, they are willing to open up, share, and be enlightened by others. The group of women is very eclectic–each woman has a unique and individual gift to bring to our circle.”… Lisa

“I enjoyed the meeting today. It felt like a comfortable, supportive and fun place to be. Thanks for organizing this group. I think it is a good fit for me and I look forward to future get togethers”… Ricka

“Great meeting. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Very supportive and collegial. Thanks for creating such a warm environment”… Berna

“Thank you for an absolutely outstanding GaGa meeting this afternoon. I feel fortunate to be a part of this lovely group of women. It was an exceptional meeting and I appreciated how honest and genuine everyone was.”… Cheri

“I loved today’s GaGa meeting, it was enlightening and ever so much fun! I can’t wait until the next one in September. So glad I am now a part of this wonderful group of Grandmas!”… Carol

“I admire the way you run the meetings, how inclusive you are, and, mostly, the fact that you created this group out of a common life event–being a grandmother” .... Miriam

“What a treat to be able to share this amazing grandmother experience with those that ‘get it!’ Such a joy!”

"Being a part of The GaGa Sisterhood is such an incredible gift! I love the intellectual stimulation and the building of new relationships. I hope you understand what an incredible experience you're offering to so many of us. You truly are a blessing and I deeply appreciate all you do to make our meetings so meaningful"  .....  Kate

"Your newsletter has great information that's given me inspiration and wisdom on my journey as a grandparent." .... Diane

"Thank you for all you do for us. You enrich our lives and expand our minds" ... LH

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