Does the novelty of grandchildren wear off?

[imperialminty]

Just curious after a conversation with a friend… if you have multiple grandchildren - are you less excited for the subsequent ones than you were for the first?

I’m thinking of my own grandparents who had 14 grandchildren, or the Queen - I can’t imagine hearing number 10 is on the way is as exciting as number 1! Do you love them all as much (I mean when they’re born, rather than when they’re older and you can like them as people).

I’ve seen my Aunts and my MIL go absolute CRAZY for their first grandchildren, just wonder if they’ll be this excited for the rest if they come along?!

My parents had 4 GC before my little one turned up. For the first, they went to the hospital, wheeled my sister in and held baby within minutes of birth. By the time my little one turned up (in between COVID lockdown 1 and 2, and my first baby), they dropped off some nappies on the doorstep and went on holiday in their camper van, not meeting little one until lockdown easing began when baby was 6m old.

I'd say yes, the excitement fades, sadly.

I've wondered the same about People with 10+ kids.

Margo, I’m so sorry. That’s shit. 💐
The novelty hasn’t worn off for my parents or my in-laws, who have 6 and 10 gc respectively.

Mind you, the first was obviously incredibly exciting for them all.

Yes, I think so.

Margo I'm sorry about that. I have 3 GC's and there won't be any more, so that's a small enough number to love them all

My mum has ten grandchildren and she was so worried about me when I had the first one I don't think she really allowed herself to enjoy it, by the time the others arrived she'd chilled out a bit 🤣, she definitely treats them all the same though

I don't agree it's less exciting.. they're all so bloody lovely in their own ways. But you do learn to keep it in perspective

They're your children's children.. you are there to love and support, but you do need your own lives.

I think the trend to have children later mean that they are sometimes find grandchildren overwhelming especially if it's a few years later - my Dp's db had a child much later and at 82 their mum really struggles with spending much time, she cares but can't help practically

My parents had 21 grandkids. My DM was delighted with and loved them all. There was a period of about fifteen consecutive years when there was at least one new GC born each year.

Not for me - I'm a gran of 4. Two each from my first two children, and my youngest is engaged with none planned yet. If and when they do arrive they will be as cherished as the first.

I think some need to consider the age of grandparents. I married the youngest son of a family, and the gap between granchildren was about 10 years, i.e. my first child was born when the eldest cousin was 10. So MIL was 10 years older and with not as much energy, but I know she loved them all equally.

My mum will just have the two and is very excited about both. But probably was more excited with number one.

my MIL will have 8, 7 boys so suffice to say she is not very excited about this one (number 8!).

Well I can't say for sure. But I didn't feel less excited for my second baby so why should I be less excited for my second and subsequent grandchildren, should I have them? I'm not one to go excessively gooey over a baby, or the "first one", so I suspect I'm not the type to be like this full stop. How unpleasant though of the grandparents who are like this.

Plus I saw how a grandparent of mine and the cousins would sideline the older ones (opposite problem to the one you stated) every time a new baby grandchild came along (they noticed too). So I will be avoiding any nonsense as much as I can.