Freud’s 4pm Session: Grandparenting – Redefining Family Dynamics

Grandparenting: On Love and Relationships Across Generations

In this talk, Terri Apter explores the changing dynamics of grandparenting as a new generation takes up the mantle. Terri will discuss how parenting a child, who is now a parent themselves, awakens issues about identity and boundaries, and stirs up past feelings of both resentment and gratitude that play out as grandparents engage with the newest family members. The increasing role of grandparents in child care in the context of parental work pressures, cost of living and compelling theories about the evolutionary role of grandmothers in human development will all be considered. Come ready with questions about how parents can engage meaningfully with grandparents about how they navigate changing roles as well as their goals and capabilities in relation to their growing family.

The event will be introduced by Dr Giuseppe Albano, Director of the Freud Museum.

Grandparenting is a long-awaited, well-informed, personal and well-researched insight into what it means to be a grandparent. Terri Apter is brilliant, warm, human, and wise… A wonderful book’

Julia Samuel, author of Every Family Has a Story

‘In tones of good humour and rare sanity, Grandparenting seamlessly weaves together sage practical counsel, granular observation of intergenerational relationships and relevant context from psychology, neurology and anthropology. An invaluable resource for grandparents and parents alike’

Josh Cohen, author of All the Rage

Terri Apter is a psychologist, writer and Fellow Emerita of Newnham College Cambridge. She is the author of many critically acclaimed books on family dynamics, including Altered Loves: Mothers and Daughters During Adolescence (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year), and The Confident Child (winner of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Educator’s Prize). Her reviews and articles have appeared in the Guardian, the TLS, the Financial Times, the New York Times Book Review, and the Psychologist, and she is a regular blogger for Psychology Today. Raised in Chicago, she moved to the UK to study at Edinburgh University and Cambridge University, where she has worked ever since.

Complement your visit to the Freud Museum with one of our weekly tours or talks led by staff, volunteers and guest speakers.

The talks are free with your admission ticket. Book your admission ticket now!

The event will be held on the first floor of the Museum during regular opening hours. Unfortunately the Freud Museum does not have step-free access at this time. Advance booking is highly recommended as capacity is limited.

Concessions/Members/Patrons: Please show proof of eligibility/membership card on arrival.