- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Grandparenting: generation vs generation
As wonderful a woman as my mom is, I dont think she will ever be the same type of grandmother to my kids as her mother was to me (& my cousins).
How do your parents compare [as grandparents] to your grandparents?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Grandparenting: generation vs generation
Matthew Kevin
7/31/83-7/20/11
Met 1/8/00
Engaged 4/21/06
Married 9/29/07
Two beautiful legacies: Noah Matthew (2 yrs) and Chloe Marcella (8 mos)
Day Three
My grandparents had 7 kids and each one had at least two children of their own. When we all lived in Wisconsin I don't really remember getting all that much one-on-one time with my grandparents. When my family moved to Texas (and my grandparents moved south also to retire) they still had that strict mentality that you have to have when there are 20 screaming children running around even though it was just my brother and I. They did lighten up as we got older.
My dad is super relaxed and hands on as a grandpa! He does everything he can - baseball games, road trips and the dreaded of all, watching Barney! He even drove 3 hours yesterday to come see me, DS and DH for our first Mother's day! As great-grandparents I think my grandparents are starting to loosen up more and enjoy the ride as well.
My family had the same situation- 7 kids on one side and 4 on the other led to there being 18 cousins on one side and 10 on the other. My parents will have my two (we're done procreating) and however many my sister has- she's 33 and about to have her first this summer. My ILs will have our two and however many my SIL has eventually (2 or 3 is what she's thinking). My folks get much more one-on-one time with my kids, even living as far apart as we do. They're retired and travel to see us every three or four months and spend two weeks one-on-one with the kids.
My mom's parents weren't very involved in my life growing up, they had 9 kids and each of them had at least 2 kids...on top of that my grandmother was always battling diabetes complications, so was always sick. My dad's parents were the "fun" grandparents and it was always a treat to go to their house. My brother and I were also their only grandchildren, so we got a lot of attention. My parents are a lot like my dad's parents grandparent-wise. They want to be there and be very hands-on. My parents are still very young at heart, and incredibly active.
DH's parents are a totally different story. His mother has already passed, and his dad is just not the kid type. He has surprised us though and has been amazing with her. His wife is great with her, but because of the way she treats DH's little sister (she's 15) I don't want DD spending much time with her.
I guess my MIL is right on par as far as how activie she is with the grandkids vs her kids. Once thye reach a certian age the are too activie for her and she moves on to the younger one or in our case DD since she is a baby and doesn't do much.
My mother much, much, much worse then my grandma. My grandma was great, when I was allowed to see her and I miss her very much. Yes I will admit that I am to a point doing to her exactly what she did to her mother, however the difference is that my grandma wanted to see me. My mother has never shown any interest in my children and there is no place in my life for people like that.
I'm loving your siggy pix.
---
We saw my grandparents during the summers, mainly. My mom lives closer, and she will have a more active role in E's life. I think my mom will spoil him just a bit.
She also watches him once a week, and babysits on occasion so we can run an errand or just to give me/us a break.
ETA: If/When I become a "MIL" - I really hope I don't drive my DIL crazy. I have 2 boys, so odds are pretty good I will be a MIL at some point.