Do you congratulate grandparents for a new grandchild?

[Budgetating]

Writing to someone whose grandchild has just been born. Are you supposed to congratulate them? Does it sound a bit weird to say “congratulations on the new arrival” when they’re not the parents?

When I worked in a card shop I sent my brother a Father's Day card from his cats 😂
That is both extremely weird and extremely sweet at the same time!
They really know how to milk it, don't they?

I'm of an age where quite a few of my peers are starting to become grandparents, and I would always acknowledge it and show interest, as I understand it is exciting, just not something they need congratulating on.

I still don't see how somebody necessarily has to earn congratulations by achieving something momentous. It isn't just a word used by an evil Bond villain when 007 has used his skill, wit and guile to foil their wicked plans!

As a PP said, there isn't a limited world supply of congratulations, which need to be strictly reserved and only sparingly awarded to those who are most deserving of them. Just like there's no shortage of 'thanks' available - which must come as a great relief to Irish people, who frequently singlehandedly 'spend' a million of them with alarming frequency

I think it is weird but then I don't congratulate on the birth of their children (praise for having unprotected sex doesn't seem the biggest achievement considering it has happened 8 billion times) .

@Whoarethewho

I think it is weird but then I don't congratulate on the birth of their children (praise for having unprotected sex doesn't seem the biggest achievement considering it has happened 8 billion times) .

Ooh you are all heart.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll - Just like there's no shortage of 'thanks' available - which must come as a great relief to Irish people, who frequently singlehandedly 'spend' a million of them with alarming frequency

It's only 100,000 at a time. No way we'd be spending 1,000,000.

I think it is weird but then I don't congratulate on the birth of their children (praise for having unprotected sex doesn't seem the biggest achievement considering it has happened 8 billion times) .

That's a very sad mindset to go through life having. What's the point in celebrating with your loved ones about any big life events? Or do you just never do that anyway? Should I never congratulate or positively affirm my DS when he achieves something new for him, on the basis that I already did it decades ago, and my own parents and grandparents decades before me?

The police aren't going to suddenly come along and arrest you once they adjudge you for having spent too great a proportion of your life being happy about nice things that have happened to you or your loved ones and good friends.

It's only 100,000 at a time. No way we'd be spending 1,000,000.

"Thanks a hundred thousand" - is that even a thing?!?! Maybe all of us should stop using the unhelpfully vague 'many thanks' and start specifying the exact number

"Thanks a million" is totally Irish phraseology.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll - Thanks a hundred thousand" - is that even a thing

Probably not For some strange reason, despite the fact I actually speak decent Irish, I somehow or other decided that your mention of a million thanks was referring to the phrase "céad míle Fáilte" which is obviously 100,000 welcomes, not a 100,000 ( or even a million) thanks. No idea why. Possibly the

@GreyhoundG1rl - "Thanks a million" is totally Irish phraseology.

Yes it is. I'm still blaming the wine.

Easily done . People tend to assume míle is million, not thousand,

@GreyhoundG1rl - Easily done grin. People tend to assume míle is million, not thousand,

Well, they do say pride comes before a fall. That's exactly the mistake I assumed was being made by the poster referring to the million thanks, while completely ignoring the fact that fáilte and buíochas are not the same thing

Anyway, comhghairdeas to the new grandparents.

It would depend on how well I know them to what I said. If I know they had a close relationship with their child, I would say congratulations and pass on my congratulations also if I knew the parents. Otherwise I would just ask a few questions to be interested.
I was amazed, actually pissed off, when my mother received about 5/6 cards after I had the baby. We have a crap relationship and all she does is give me aggravation but she has obviously still gone with her 'loving parent' act to her friends. But makes sense as she did and still does think she has a right over my kids.

You're a far better gaeilgeoir than me, I've barely a word left...

I was amazed, actually pissed off, when my mother received about 5/6 cards after I had the baby. We have a crap relationship and all she does is give me aggravation
But it's a fact that she became a grandmother, her relationship with you doesn't discount that.

@GreyhoundG1rl - You're a far better gaeilgeoir than me, I've barely a word left...

The kids went to a Gaelscoil so I took it as an opportunity to re-learn it all. I'm not fluent but can hold a reasonable conversation (except obviously when I've had a couple of - and it's literally only a couple).

Oh, fair play to you 👍

Yeah I've always thought it was nice to buy a card for new grandparents.

When I had my first DC my parents got me a card with 'a brand new grandchild' written on the front. Technically, I had just had their grandchild so I guess it wasn't wrong as such. But it did make me view them differently!

Seeing as my DParents and MIL haven’t bothered congratulating me or keeping in touch during my pregnancy, this would massively piss me off. I know IABU. In my defense, I’m 40 weeks pregnant and boiling in this weather.