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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

18 year old and grandparents

16 replies

bustraintram · 10/09/2015 12:45

Hi all, looking for some advice about DS1 (18). He likes going and seeing his grandparents (my father and DH's mother and father) and often goes and sees them independently. He has just come back from a trip to DH's parents and was telling me about how he enjoyed the trip, but felt that his grandparents were challenging to please. This is actually because they are so lovely and generous that they let DS do whatever he wants. For his part DS can always find stuff to do - sightseeing, travelling round London, even work somehow - but he wants stuff to do with his grandparents that they'd enjoy too. Does anyone have any practical suggestions for how we could manage this - things that elderly grandparents of limited mobility could do with their grandson. They are in London and have car access but stories of how people have managed similar situations would be much appreciated, even if various factors are different to what I've said here.

OP posts:

ChocolateJam · 10/09/2015 19:33

I don't have an answer but I want to compliment you on raising a DS who likes to spend time with grandparents at the age of 18. Can he take them out for tea?

goodiegoodieyumyum · 10/09/2015 19:44

I used to take my Nana to the Theatre, musicals mainly normally matinees, also to the cinema, we would often go to lunch first. Often I would just to her house and have lunch with her.

ImperialBlether · 10/09/2015 19:46

Do they all have a shared interest such as theatre or music? He sounds a lovely boy!

ImperialBlether · 10/09/2015 19:47

What sort of thing did your parents like to do when they were younger, for a treat? Did they have any hobbies?

wavedancer68 · 11/09/2015 08:50

I used to love looking through my grandparents old photos/albums and hearing all about the people and places. My grandparents are long gone, but I have all those photos now and I still remember the names, etc and have been able to pass the family history on to my own children. Even if your DS isn't particularly interested in family history his grandparents might enjoy an afternoon or evening showing him their old photos.

Yellowpansies · 11/09/2015 19:25

My parents very much wish my teenage DS lived a bit closer so he could help them with their computer. He enjoys fixing it for them when he gets the chance.

I also used to love looking through old photos and hearing stories about family history with my grandparents. Going for walks got harder as they got older.

Rivercam · 11/09/2015 21:40

Afternoon tea at a local hotel

Going to museum / art gallery. They don't have to visit the whole museum, maybe one or two,halls.

Do your grandparents live in the same area they few up in? If so, maybe they could visit childhood haunts, and tell,your de about their childhood.

spatchcock · 11/09/2015 21:45

There are a few lovely old London churches that have free lunchtime concerts. St Martins-in-the-fields is one.

SenecaFalls · 11/09/2015 21:51

I think this is a bit of an odd question. If two or three people want to do something, usually they agree on an activity they would all enjoy and do that. I'm not sure the ages are all that relevant.

Floralnomad · 11/09/2015 22:00

My ds(22) often stays over at my mums and they have a film night .

BackforGood · 11/09/2015 22:03

Most Grandparents I know want to show off their grandchildren to their friends, so, if he really wants them to be thrilled to bits, could he go along to {insert bowls club or lunch club or Church or wherever they meet their friends} ?

AvaCrowder · 11/09/2015 22:13

What do his gps normally do? I was the same at his age and older, I just liked hanging out with my grandma, the nicest person you could meet in your life. And she always gave me bread and butter before bed. My dhs brothers go to watch snooker with their nan.

lalamumto3 · 11/09/2015 22:13

At about a boat trip on the Thames

AcrossthePond55 · 11/09/2015 22:16

Oh, YY to wavedancer! My DS1 used to love to hear my father's WWII service stories and Mum's tales of growing up during the depression! DS2 enjoyed Mum's reminiscences of when my siblings and I were little, what life was like in the early 60s.

They used to play card games (Uno, Skip-bo, rummy) or play Monopoly, watch movies, and would order pizza for supper then have ice cream sundaes.

BackforGood · 11/09/2015 22:41

Or does he have a skill they don't (possibly technology related, for example?) Can he teach them to be silver surfers, or show them how to download a favourite film or programme from the past ?

BackforGood · 11/09/2015 22:41

....or teach them how to Skype or Facetime so they can chat when he's not staying with them ?

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