GRANPARENTS – HAVING THEM AND BEING THEM

I remember my maternal grandparents quite well. They both lived till I was about 18.

My paternal ones not so well. They were both gone before I was 8 so I only have vague impressions of them.

Whether the memories are clear of faint echoes, I was lucky because they are all good ones.

I remember running round to my father’s parents place (seemed a long way then, but I went back just before they knocked the tenements down in Glasgow and realised it was only 2 closes away) any time I was in trouble and being given a sort of sanctuary from the wrath of my parents.

My mother’s parents lived much further away and I only saw them about every 2 years as a child when we went to their place for the odd holiday.

Lord knows what age they were then. To me they seemed ancient, but they managed to cope very well with the young Glasgow tearaway that I was then (and yes I know someone will say I don’t seem to have changed much).

I have no grandchildren and little prospect of getting any. Don’t feel sorry for me. I think that may be a good thing. I don’t do little kids well. Not even my own until they got past about 8 and could hold a reasonably sensible conversation.

So in conclusion, if you have them and enjoy them, then good for you. I’m happy for you.

If you don’t and want them, think about it. Could you cope?

Personally I doubt I could. I may be 60, but my head is still telling me I’m early 30’s (and yes that hurts sometimes when I try something I used to do and find it isn’t as easy as I remembered, lol) so I’m not old enough to be a grandparent yet. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

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  1. Way , I grew up in my Mother’s father as her Mother had passed away when she was 16. He was 70 when I was born and lived to be 83 and have alot of fond memories of him and am so glad I had him in my life as I didn’t have a father. So when I became a grandparent at 52 I really have enjoyed being a grandmother to my 2 grandsons , so maybe one day you will become a grandparent and know that you will be a wonderful grandparent.

  2. I’ve heard that before way …many times…i think that we tend to associate the word grand parenting with being old or aging…nothing further from the truth in my opinion
    Children are life giving…they make you feel young again…their love it’s pure and unconditional…being a grand parent does NOT make you old…Time does!
    Grand parent it’s just a word…and to me it means LOVE.

  3. I lived most of my young life down on the farm with my darling grandparents, who rescued me from a very dysfunctional family as often as they could. My grandmother was the most beautiful person I have ever met. She has been gone over 40 years now, I can still see every little feature of her beautiful face to this day. Thank God for grandparents xxx

  4. Love your post way – my mother’s parents lived with us – mum, dad and 5 children. I am the eldest and my grandparents played a large part in my upbringing in a dysfunctional family and I don’t know what I would have done without them in my life. I will be forever grateful to them. I only saw my father’s parents about twice in my life. xoxox

  5. Cruel and unusual punishment from my Grandfather. I was 4 and spilled my milk. as punishment Grandpa made me paint the split rail fence with a coffee can full of water. He told me it wasn’t finished until it was white. If Grandma hadn’t come to get me, I’d still be there painting that fence. I never much liked the story of TOM SAWYER after that.

  6. Grandparents can be wonderful depends on your luck…..never much cared for my maternal grandmother,,,think the feeling was very much the same on her part.Grandfather was great ended up living with my mum as he got older.I love being a grandmother would love to think i do it as good as my mother did.Great mum great nana ……….think you would be good too way ,,,,xxxxxxx mac