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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if anyone past 30 still has a full set of grandparents?

325 replies

ComposHatComesBack · 24/04/2015 11:45

I'm mid 30s and have one grandparent left. Most people I know of a similar age are in a similar boat 0-2 grandparents still alive.

Out of curiosity really, has anyone been lucky enough to have made it past 30 with the 'full set' of two grandfathers and grandmothers?

OP posts:
ChrisQuean · 25/04/2015 12:21

DH and I have lost all our grandparents. They'd be mid to late 90s if any were still alive. Our last grandparent - my paternal grandmother who had dementia - died when I was 31.

LittleMissCrankyPants · 25/04/2015 12:35

I'm 39 I have no grandparents and my children only have 1 Sad

BigFatFurryCatPuss · 25/04/2015 13:06

I'm 30 and still have both sets of Grandparents. So the dcs have 4 Grandparents and 4 Great-Grandparents Smile. Christmas is chaos as you can imagine, we are very very lucky.

DH's last Grandparent died when he was 9.

MaryBerrysLostCherry · 25/04/2015 13:59

I only ever had two, DMs parents didn't make it into her teens. Just lost my DGM at 38, lost my DGF when I was 16. I was so privileged to have had him. He was a wonderful man and I miss him daily. Losing DGM has brought so many wonderful memories flooding back. Feel sad happy thinking of him.

When she was born DD had 3 GGPs. She's just turned 6 and has none left. I miss DHs granda daily as well. He was so easy to love.

BlackeyedSusan · 25/04/2015 14:04

I only had one when I was born. dc had a full set until they were 6 and 4, so are not going to make 30 with a full set.

steppemum · 25/04/2015 14:35

I knew mine until I was in my 20's. I have always hoped that my kids would have theirs until in their 20's.

Any more than that seems amazingly lucky.

But then my grandparents all had kids late, and I have had my kids late. So I guess I am really lucky my mum had us early!

My grandparents were all long lived 88, 92 and 92. (the 4th died in war, so doesn't really count)

Mamadothehump · 25/04/2015 15:26

I had all 4 until I was 20. I'm now 33 and still have both my paternal grandparents. DH is 38 and has his grandmother left.

LumionaMoonsplash · 25/04/2015 15:36

I did at 30, still have 3 now, they are fairly well in their early 80's. I feel lucky my DCs know them, DH hasn't any still alive but my PILs had him and BIL later on.

BigFatFurryCatPuss · 25/04/2015 15:43

There is a tendency to have dcs young on my side of the family, GM was 21 when DM was born, DM was 24 when i was born and i was 16 when DD1 was born (unplanned!).

DH's mum was 32 when she had him and her DM was in her 30s when she had her.

SomewhereIBelong · 25/04/2015 17:01

Mine are still alive all 90's (2x94, 1x97, 1x98 ) - I'm 50... unusual I know, my dad died 4 years ago - so his parents have both outlived him.

DH has none.

Methe · 25/04/2015 18:22

Wow somewhere that's pretty impressive!

SevenEleven · 25/04/2015 18:27

Wow! That's great! In DHs side.of the family all the women lived well into their 90's but the men never made 60. Mine were around 80 when they died so not bad, really.

kent43 · 25/04/2015 20:12

3 of my grandparents died before I was born. One died when I was 7. Both parents are now dead. My dc only knew 2 grandparents and will shortly have none.

alleypalley · 25/04/2015 20:17

I'm 40, I have have 3 grandparents left. My grandad died in a plane crash a few months before I was born. My other grandad has dementia and doesn't know who I am. One grandma also has dementia and barely knows who I am. The last grandma is a bitch who I have been NC with for 20 yrs now.

Welshwabbit · 25/04/2015 20:32

35 and have one left (paternal grandmother, 94). My paternal grandfather died when I was one, and both my mum's parents when I was 13. I loved them very much and still think about them often. I always wear the ring my grandad got my nan for their ruby wedding anniversary (which was a couple of years before they died).

My husband only has one left now (maternal grandmother, 90) but had a full set til his early 20. We are lucky that our parents are all still alive and spoil our kids rotten, just like I remember my grandparents doing for me.

RedCrayons · 25/04/2015 20:36

Ive never had a full set, my dads mum died when he was young. My GM died 5 years ago so now I don't have any.

I'm so glad that my DCs have all 4 and have such a great relationship with them all.

1lov3comp5 · 25/04/2015 20:40

Had all 4 when I was born, lost one nana when I was 30 and one grandad when I was 31. DH had 3 gps when he was born, one granny died before he was 10 and he list grandfather earlier this year.
My dd is lucky in that she has all 4 gp and up to 18 months ago had 5 great gp as well, she loved telling people she had 9nanas and grandads Smile

Endler32 · 25/04/2015 20:42

I'm 33 and I have 3 grandparents left out of 4, all are in late 80's and early 90's.

Anomaly · 25/04/2015 20:43

DH has both sets and he's nearly 38. They're all in their 80s but in generally good health.

I lost my last grandparent when I was 22 and she was the only one I knew. Both grandads died years before I was born and my paternal grandmother died when I was 2.

Its great for my kids as they get spoilt rotten when we visit them all.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 25/04/2015 20:46

I do! I'm 31. I had a great-granny living until last year (she was 102).

1Morewineplease · 25/04/2015 20:55

All grandparents lost by 16 ... I'm 51 now and have my mum and ma-in law left

lostlalaloopsy · 25/04/2015 20:58

I am 33 and I still have both of my paternal grandparents. But sadly my beloved maternal Granny passed away yesterday aged 90. She will be sorely missed. My maternal grandfather died before I was born.

SomewhereIBelong · 26/04/2015 07:36

With still having all 4 in their 90s, I think our family gene pool is "lucky" - or it could have something to do with coming from an island - over the years things have become more "the same" as the rest of UK but overall less contact with nasty viruses and pollution might have had an effect - none of my grandparents have ever travelled more than 40 miles from home - or smoked or drank alcohol - and all 4 of their (very limited!!) diets seem to consist of fish, cabbage, potatoes, rhubarb crumble, custard, cake and copious cups of tea.

StayGoldPonyBoy · 26/04/2015 07:41

I still have 4. DMs parents are 70 and my dads are in their late 80s. I have a very young family, teen parents of teen parents. They're all fit and healthy too

fulltothebrim · 26/04/2015 07:44

None here since the age of 8.

OH and I have only one living parent left between us- the other 3 are dead.