To not want any grandchildren?

[Manzanilla55]

Just that really. I had ds my only child at age 41 and am now 57. By the time he moves out I imagine I will be 62. I just want peace and quiet after that. He doesn't want children either as he has plenty of family on his dad's side in London. Of all ages. I happened to mention in passing I did not want any to a couple of people and boy were they shocked. There are plenty of things to enjoy in life without grandchildren. Am I really unusual and am I missing something here? I just prefer a nice simple life hobbies interests plenty of me time and a modest social life. I don't even crave a bloke. Am I really strange as I just don't feel that I am.

@Snowdrop30 that sounds tough for you.
But I know I felt so spent after caring for an adult relative for some years after. It is harder than caring for a child IME. Because with a child however hard it is, you know they are going to become more independent and easier. With an adult it is the opposite. So if you are struggling having to wake up in the night to help them, you know it is only going to get worse. It just drained me in the end and I felt totally spent.

@esterwin I know - I do get it. I just think it's a little sad all round.

My children claim not to want children and that's their decision to make, and to change, which could well happen.

I think it's okay to feel this way but not okay to share it with your child or treat a future grandchild poorly because of it.

If you choose to have a child, you choose to be connected to someone and their families for the rest if your life.

He may change his mind in his forties. You are discussing something that may never happen either way. Your involvement with any GC would be up to you. Don't see it as having to babysit and be a continual presence. I saw my Grandparents rarely growing up and mine see theirs once a year, maybe twice. You might find that you end up feeling sad you don't see them more! Although both my parents died before they were sixty three...

It isn't obligatory to want grandchildren or to be that involved with them if you do have them (though that is rather sad for the children).

I wasn't at all concerned about having grandchildren but now I've got them I'm very glad.

Whether I do or don't want grandchildren is immaterial. It's not about what I want. I had my turn and I made my choices. When my DC's time comes it's for them to do the same.

You might be ok because I think a lot of men don't really want kids.
They just go along with what their wife/partner wants.
They're always happy to be there for the shag, of course - that trumps all - but a lot of them are far less enthused by the grunt work of actually raising a baby.