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.

Start a New Birthday Tradition (Giveaway)

By Donne Davis | March 23, 2020

Joni Rubinstein, author of “The Night Before My Birthday Book” tells the story of how her book took on a life of its own. The GaGa Sisterhood is giving away an autographed copy of her book.

Read More »

Why Stressed Out Moms Need a Break

By Donne Davis | April 28, 2010

Today’s moms face so many stressors there is little time or energy to pursue a higher goal than getting through the day. As a result, moms don’t take care of themselves, their kid’s behavior gets out of control and their marriage becomes strained.

Read More »

When Being a Grandma Isn’t So Grand, Revisited

By Donne Davis | January 31, 2012

Grandmas face challenges in their relationships with their grandchildren’s parents. At our meeting, we discussed 3 challenges: difficult relationships, hurt feelings, and different parenting methods.

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Solving the Morning Jumble

By Donne Davis | November 5, 2013

For the past 45 years, my husband and I have begun our morning by solving the Jumble — the scrambled word game which appears in our daily newspaper.

Read More »

Celebrating a Baby’s First Birthday with a Time Capsule

By Donne Davis | October 12, 2009

Creating a time capsule is a great way to involve the entire family in a baby’s first birthday celebration.

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New Year’s Resolution Week

By Donne Davis | January 6, 2010

Whether you call them New Year’s resolutions or goals, it’s not too late to create focused goals, detailed plans, and firm commitments for the new year.

Read More »

Grandma Ready to Call It Quits Over Out-of-Control Grandchildren

By Donne Davis | April 29, 2015

My friend complained that taking care of her grandchildren is exhausting because they don’t get along and she’s tired of trying to help the parents control the kids.

Read More »

Intergeneration Travel Tradition

By Donne Davis | April 9, 2024

Intergenerational travel has been a longstanding tradition in my family. When I graduated high school, my maternal grandma Amelia and I rode Amtrak’s California Zephyr from San Francisco to New York. We sat in the dome car and ate our meals in the Pullman car. I cherished my bond with my grandma and wanted to […]

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Here’s the Halloween Phantom Poem

By Donne Davis | October 22, 2013

Have fun with the Halloween Phantom on your block. Secretly drop goodies at a neighbor’s house with a request to pass along the poem and goodies to two more neighbors.

Read More »

National Night Out is August 2, 2011

By Donne Davis | July 28, 2011

National Night Out is a crime and drug prevention event. People all over the country are having block parties, cookouts, parades, and flash light walks.

Read More »

Start an Organizing Project With Your Grandchild

By Donne Davis | February 22, 2011

An organizing project can be a fun way to teach grandchildren valuable skills, including sorting, keeping like-with-like and one-in/one-out. Here are some suggestions.

Read More »

GaGa Sisterhood Participating at the New Mom Fair

By Donne Davis | October 16, 2009

We are participating at The New Mom Fair this year on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 from 11am-3pm at the Beresford Community Center and Park located at 2720 Alameda de Las Pulgas in San Mateo, CA 94403. The New Mom Fair is a FREE event open to the public. Brought to you by The New Mom, Parenting on the Peninsula, and Bay Area Birth Information, the focus of the fair is to expose you to all of the health options available to you within your local community.

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Learning the Boundaries of Communication

By Donne Davis | January 23, 2017

Of all the challenges we grandmas face, the biggest seems to be around communication with our adult children. Communication takes sensitivity, empathy, patience and a lot of practice.

Read More »

Grandma’s Heart Opens Up When Grandson Arrives

By Donne Davis | April 9, 2018

When a grandchild arrives, the heart opens up in ways you can’t imagine as author Susan Byrum Rountree discovered during her first week with her new grandson.

Read More »

Casting Call for Young Grandmothers-to-be and their Pregnant Daughters

By Donne Davis | January 8, 2016

A major cable network is seeking young grandmothers-to-be and their pregnant daughters for a heartwarming new real-life television series.

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 »

Grandma Objects to Videocams When She Babysits

By Donne Davis | January 2, 2018

In my new feature, “Ask GaGa,” I’ve been answering questions from grandmas who need advice. This grandma resents being spied on by her daughter and son-in-law when she babysits for her granddaughter.

Read More »

Long-Distance Grandmas Are Thankful for Technology Advances

By Donne Davis | December 4, 2013

Technology often gets a bad rap because it keeps people from personally engaging with each other. But there are times when technology is just what you need for communication.

Read More »

Grandmother and Granddaughter Showcase Wonder Girls

By Donne Davis | September 27, 2018

Photojournalist Paola Gianturco and her 11-year old granddaughter, Alex Sangster co-authored “Wonder Girls: Changing Our World” to showcase activist girls, age 10 to 18, who are improving their communities.

Read More »

Reflections from a First Time Grandpa

By Donne Davis | July 15, 2019

The first time Joel Poznansky held his new granddaughter in his arms, he was overcome by a feeling he’d never before experienced – especially compared to his feelings when he became a parent.

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

Some Kudos GaGa Sisterhood Received Over The Years

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