What’s it like being a grandparent ?

[GingerPussInBoots]

Just wondering as as friends sister recently became one, as she posts a lot of photos of the baby calling her, her princess, yet I know she doenst like the mum much, but if a personality clash might get better with time hopefully and wheh peopel are more settled perhaps
anyway
I just can’t really imagine it
she’s the paternal grandparent

Are you a parent op?

Why would her relationship with the mum affect the love she had for her grandchildren? I imagine it may affect how often she sees her grandchildren but it shouldn't affect the love.

Firstly your thread title has no relevance to your OP

secondly, daft question

What a strange and oddly written OP.

I usually don’t notice and leave it to the pedants.

This one…. I noticed

Yes I am and I’m late 40s so some people my age have babies some are starting to welcome grandchildren
so guess I was just wondering what it like, you know like how before tour a parent you wonder

It's brilliant OP. You feel a love you didn't feel possible after children. I adore my GC and am v lucky to have a good relationship with all parents so I am v involved

They are exhausting though and I don't have the energy I had 30 odd years ago. I do have far more patience tho and it's a joy to experience young childhood again and having time to stop and smell the flowers

Awww that’s lovely, I remember being pregnant after having my pfb and wondering will I love any more children the same and you do
sounds like a fun experience
happy for you

It’s absolutely amazing. Nothing beats gc cuddles.

I don’t think it’s an odd question, I often think about it. Lots of my friends are grandparents and are loving it but I’m sure like having a DC you don’t actually know what’s it’s like until it happens to you.

Yes I don’t think it’s odd either, I actually find people saying it’s odd, odd🤣
Oh well, horses for courses

It’s amazing, the absolute best! He’s enriched my life and brightened our world beyond comprehension. ♥️

My two closest friends have ten grandchildren between them. They both say the obligation to be available for childcare dominates their life and is exhausting.

One says if she'd known what how grandchildren would impact on her old age she would never have had children. The other would like to retire but won't because she is afraid that if she's not occupied with work she will be available 24/7 for childcare.

Nope.

Yeah I do see a few grandparents on the school run collecting 4 kids and they look like they might have a heart attack at any moment

More fool them.

I don't need to suggest that. They talk to their children but the expectation remains, bad feeling when help is declined, always some emergency that pushes boundaries.

It’s not an odd question but it’s complex and very personal.
I love knowing a little bit of me continues, a little bit of my parents and grandparents it’s very cool.
love the kids in a deep unconditional way, much more liberating than as a parent.
what I remember more was the actual pain I felt prior to becoming a grandparent that was horrible for me.
they live far away though, I see them a few times a year, I support the families best I can. Certainly not a burden.

They do have very positive relationships, very supportive, involved in each others lives in both directions just the pure volume and expectation. With one grandchild or even two the 'could you just have them on Sunday' might be ok, but when it's so many grandchildren busy parents there is always something.

You might have something with the considerate children thing - they do seem to have a high level of expectation.