LILLIAN CARSON, D.S.W., L.C.S.W., BOARD CERTIFIED DIPLOMATE IN CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK, is a nationally renowned authority on child development, parenting and grandparenting. The author of The Essential Grandparent is referred to by the same title herself. She is also a McGrandmom, a designation awarded by McDonalds. Recently, the United Nations invited her to join their fledgling grandparenting program, designed to help children around the world.

She is a psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara and has worked with adults, children and families for more that twenty-five years. Dr. Carson conducts groups and lectures, and has appeared as a grandparenting expert on numerous television programs. She is also a well-known and sought-after guest for topics ranging from childhood development and parenting to women's issues, and is listed in World's Who's Who of Women and Who's Who of American Women.

Dr. Carson lives in Montecito with her husband and enjoys grandparenting eight grandchildren. You may visit her online at www.essentialgrandparent.com.