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Original poster

What kind of granny will you be?

116 replies

lljkk · 08/04/2023 18:28

I'll be taking any grand children skating, wind-surfing & mountainbiking. I'll give them ice cream for tea. And you?

OP posts:
AuntieMarys · 09/04/2023 07:53

I will be about 70...I will not be doing childcare! Dcs live about 300 miles away.
I am not interested in having gc.

Ragwort · 09/04/2023 07:54

Tired ... Grin , am 65 now with no expectation of being a grandma in the near future. I would hope my DS moves away as we live in a rather dull quiet part of the country with limited opportunities so I don't expect to live locally to any grandchildren... and my own DPs didn't live near to me when DS was young but still had a great relationship with him. I would not wish to offer regular childcare (I still have my elderly DM at 90 to care for!) but, if practical, occasional holiday care and babysitting.
I think there's a balance, some of my friends are DGPs and, in some cases, feel utterly taken advantage of and unappreciated by their adult DC .. but are too scared to say anything.

Stickmansmum · 09/04/2023 07:59

I will do whatever my kids need but DH and I are working hard with them now to ensure they all earn very well and have a resilience and independence that would make it unlikely they will need us as a safety net. I do expect them to earn enough to pay for childcare and really don’t want to be tied down to their schedule in future but as a granny, and as their mum, I will be there for anything they need. I just hope they only need me for extras, not fundamental support.

Parkmama · 09/04/2023 08:00

I will support my children looking after their DC be try to make their lives as parents easier. I'll offer to babysit, I'll make some dinners they heat up so they don't need to cook, if finances allow I'll take them on holiday, I'll help out with school run now and then if I live close enough and I'll try and make sure the DC can come and sleep over when they want to. I want to be involved and supportive but not interfering.

Nottodaty · 09/04/2023 08:04

I’m hoping I will live near any grandchildren- or if both daughters move away somewhere in the middle! I don’t live near any grandparents, & they are hands on type grandparents too (except mil) so I’ve always been slightly envious of my sister children having my Dad as emergency childcare or help with the children. Same with my husband Dad and step -mum his step brother and sister have had a lot of support. I know if I lived closer they would help us to.
Secretly I can wait :) I’ve had a good relationship with my Grandparents & I’m very lucky that I’ve still got my Granny’s. Only recently lost Grandads. I love going to see my Granny (I’m 45) taking her for lunch.

VerbenaGirl · 09/04/2023 08:06

The kind with spare wellies at our house, so we can always jump in muddy puddles.

TrueScrumptious · 09/04/2023 08:14

I won’t get to be one, so it’s irrelevant to me.

Tarantellah · 09/04/2023 08:16

I’ll either be dead or in my 80s and not able to do much with grandkids. My parents had me at 40 and I became a mum at the same age, my parents are able to spend time with my kids in the house and make them a sandwich but that’s about it. I’d love to be the gran who takes them to do exciting things but realistically I’ll be too old.

ssd · 09/04/2023 08:19

I've been on mn nearly 20 years. Read too many horror stories. I'll be the MIL. So i expect to be ignored.

Roselilly36 · 09/04/2023 08:32

Can’t wait to be a nanny (can’t stand the word granny, grandma etc) I will want to help my DS & DIL, but will be sure not to offer advice until it was asked for. I will need to watch myself as I will probably spoil my GC.

saraclara · 09/04/2023 08:33

I think there's a balance, some of my friends are DGPs and, in some cases, feel utterly taken advantage of and unappreciated by their adult DC .. but are too scared to say anything.

That's my three closest friends' experience. They feel obliged to do childcare that they're actually too tired for, and at times inconvenient for them, because if they don't, they think they won't see their grandchildren at all. And yes, they're without exception, the in laws to the children's mother.

Aphrathestorm · 09/04/2023 08:35

I'd want to help dd with childcare so she doesn't have to give up her career.

Minimalme · 09/04/2023 10:07

I would love to be a Nanny. I'd be all in - swimming, crafting, baking, sleepovers, camping holidays...the whole lot.

I bloody love kids.

user1471538283 · 09/04/2023 11:15

I hope to be as involved as my DS wants me to be. Trips and time together. I want to model it on my DF where he spent alot of time with my DS but was very supportive.

I don't want to be like my DM who didn't bother at all and is not remembered.

stayathomer · 09/04/2023 18:48

my parents are able to spend time with my kids in the house and make them a sandwich but that’s about it. I’d love to be the gran who takes them to do exciting things but realistically I’ll be too old.
All of my memories with gps revolve around simple food (sandwiches and 7up), or watching them knit or crochet and they’re all fond, lovely and loving memories x

saraclara · 09/04/2023 19:05

stayathomer · 09/04/2023 18:48

my parents are able to spend time with my kids in the house and make them a sandwich but that’s about it. I’d love to be the gran who takes them to do exciting things but realistically I’ll be too old.
All of my memories with gps revolve around simple food (sandwiches and 7up), or watching them knit or crochet and they’re all fond, lovely and loving memories x

Yep. My MIL was the best GM in the world. But she didn't do exciting things with her DGCs. She just loved them with every fibre of her being, had all the time in the world for them, played 'pretend' with them at will, and fed them excessive amounts of chocolate and cake.

The GCs joint eulogy at her funeral last year, where they shared their memories and their funny stories of her with such affection and love, was just wonderful.

You really don't need to be entertaining, interesting and exciting to be a good GM. You just have to love them in such a way that they feel it and know it.

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