Why Grandparents are closer to grandchildren than to their own children?
@myworld_and_you (1223)
Philippines
March 15, 2007 4:54pm CST
This might not be true to all grandparents but this is what I mostly observed. It doesn't only happen betwen my parents and my nephew and nieces, but also to other people as well.
I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew who are very attached to my parents. It seems that my parents give more attention to their grandchildren than us, their children. Kinda funny, you know. But, it's just so nice to see them get along with these kids. Sometimes, I could tell myself, probably the reason is that their growing old already and it's been quite a long time they didn't have any young kids with them. Maybe, they miss being parents with little kids.
When my siblings and I were also young, same thing. We are closer to them and they give us whatever we ask.
What do you think? Are there some points you could think of as to why most grandparents give more attention and much time with their grandchildren than to their own children?
To those grandparents out there, can you also share your ideas as to why?
Thanks!:)
9 people like this
58 responses
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
15 Mar 07
I know exactly what you are talking about. I went to visit my grandfather today, and I took him a tray of his favourite Danish cheese, and some strawberries. I think grandparents and grandchildren are closer, because grandparentsk now they don't have the responsibility of raising the children, and grandchildren know that grandparents don't have to be as tough as parents. Grandparents and grandchildren can just have fun together.
3 people like this
@smbilalshah (1316)
• Pakistan
15 Mar 07
well let me show you an example, a farmer grows a plant, i mean he takes care of it gives it water n fertilizer protects it from disease and snimals and when finally it grows up into a strong tree and gives the first fruit, the happiness and the feelings of that farmer are beyond what words can describe. Now consider that farmer as the grandparents and the tree as their own offspring, sure they love it but grand children are their real prize.
Thats why at least here in the east Grand parents love their grand children more than anything else & im sure that in the west most do too
2 people like this
@cloud_kicker_32 (4635)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I know exactly what your talking about..and i have asked my mom why on earth is she so much nicer and easy going and let the kids get away with murder,,because she was very strict with us and we couldnt do a third of what they can do now! And She said that because she is the gramma..and she can give theme whatever she wants,because at the end of the day its me that is raising him..and i will have to put up with it ot her,and that she is the gramma and she can do what she wants..whatever the reason is.personally i think its crap lol..its just wrong..lol
@wenfri (1185)
• Canada
15 Mar 07
Sure being a Grandparent myself
It cause we can spoil the kids rotten and send them to their parents to take care of them when we are all done
Isn't that what grandparetns are for LOL
Nothin to do with gettin old (I am not that old)LOL It is called sweet revenge
Wasn't soo long ago my youngest moved out Maybe 3 years so that isn't it
As parents we expect our children the golden rules and behave as they should Which they don't all the time Special after after coming home form the grandparents house
Wendy
1 person likes this
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I have 13 grandkids so I know thw answer its because we can spoil them then when they get hard to handle we send em home!LOL
@kurtbiewald (2625)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I think its partly that Grandparents have seen and dealt with many things so not much upsets them. Like when a kid says Grandpa I want to cut your hair, the kid might be 3 or something, he says ok and lets her cuz he doesn't care how his hair looks anyway. He pays her 50 cents maybe. A special moment.
Also cuz people always have issues with their own parents, from past things. People who don't have those past issues are immune from the spite sometimes, since no past issues.
@surendrasirangu (81)
• India
16 Mar 07
it is quite true. Grand parents are always attracted to there grand children more than their own children. it has different reasons one they brought up their children watched them grow and now they are all well settled and happy and the grand children are their new toys or may be a second chance to correct some thing that did not work out between them and their children.
@musaib (84)
• India
16 Mar 07
in the older age of the grandparents they get bored with their lifes and they want to enjoy their last stage of life and hence they see themselves in their grand children and they enjoy with them.
@stefan_diego (556)
• Canada
16 Mar 07
Because grangparents tend to spoil us a bit & always bring the best gifts. And that is beside the fact that we grow up knowing that they are protective of us everytime we're in trouble at home.
@091185 (54)
• India
16 Mar 07
Its may be bcoz its a common saying that old age is equivalent to childhood, may be bcoz of that they are more close to their grant children...They have reached their oldage by the time they have grand children, may be thats one of the reason...
@shikhapatwa1 (24)
• India
16 Mar 07
Good question this is true becoz
1.first of all small children are innocent every one gets affected by their innocence
2.they both want some one to share their small things & adults have not much time to sped with them due to their busy schedule in earnigs
3.it is considered that d old age and infant age are co-related one is beginning & another ending (ending is new beginning)
@anoop_king (102)
• India
16 Mar 07
Even though I am not a grandparent,but as a grandson,I have felt the same way as you have felt
I think this may be due to the fact that as our parents are matured that the need not be shown the feeling of love
@joeeffect (11)
• India
16 Mar 07
No doubt.It's true.I live in a city and whenever i go to my home town to visit my grandparents,they hug me and pamper me at first and don even bother to greet my parents, their own children!:)Such is the affection they have towards me,and which ,even i share with them.I always long to go to my place to just visit them alone,and yea,I'm leaving tomorrow to meet them!Yipee!
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
16 Mar 07
I think that they know that the kids will be just visiting and that they are going home eventually so they are nicer to them when they are around. It could also be that they are trying to make up wasted time with thier own kids. Maybe they feel like they have a second chance with the grandkids..and they can spoil them when they are around...and spend time with them that they didn't spend with thier own kids...
@lvhughes (545)
• United States
16 Mar 07
it is true my parents are the same way. they would let my kids get away with murder but when we were little we knew if we acted up there was a belt waiting for us. my parents had this look they use to give us that always let us know they ment busness. if they gave that look to my kids they would just think they were making faces at them. and if my kids want something my parents would search to the ends of the earth for it. we always heard "it just to expensive."
@mygreyparrot (1461)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I wondered about that too. Maybe as they grow older they change? I think a lot of it may be because the kids aren't theirs. They don't have to live with them 24/7, and can send them home at their will. I think that takes a huge burden off their shoulders, and it may seem like they are nicer to the kids because they aren't always stuck with them.
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
16 Mar 07
Their own children are growing up (or already grown) and have developed their own interests. They don't have as much time for their parents as they did when they were small children so the parents naturally look for someone else who needs them.
Another reason might be that they can enjoy the grandchildren without the worries of having to discipline them. Let the children's parents do that and the grandparents can just enjoy the grandkids when they are behaving and in a good mood.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I am not a grandparent, yet, but I believe the reasons could be that Grandparents do not have the same concerns as parents do. Generally, they do not have to worry over the daily care of the child, the discipline of the child, how the child reflects them, they do not see the child as often as they saw you as a parent, they probably do not have other responsibilities on their mind like their work, so they have less stress, they are reminded of raising their children and perhaps mistakes they made and want to make-up for that somehow.
@abe2abe (1)
• India
16 Mar 07
Usually , all the people's in this world loves the kids ,whether it is a pet or a child . The grandparents will love their grandchilderns , because in their young ,they were having many commitments rather than their childrens . But when they become old , they will be alone , so they like childrens . Their grandchildrens are the only lovable persons for them .
