Becoming a grandparent is an incredible milestone in life! Most who have had the privilege say that the there is nothing like the experience of the new role and responsibility that goes along with having grandchildren!
So, how do you experience or envision being a grandparent? Here are some guidelines to consider.
- Styles of grandparenting
- Formal – traditional in that they babysit occasionally, childrearing and discipline are hands-off
- Companionate – grandparents are warm, loving, nurturing, but happy to send grandchildren home
- Fun seeker – grandparents relationship with grandchildren is playful and informal
- Distant – grandparent has little or no contact with their grandchildren, only involved on holidays and birthdays; a remote relationship
- Surrogate – occurs when grandparents assume the role of parents, are involved in the everyday rearing of their grandchildren
- Dispenser of wisdom – authoritarian figure, usually a patriarch or prominent male figure
What grandparents can do for grandchildren…
- Provide emotional attachments
- Offer continuity and stability
- Help bridge gap to the past
- Provide supervision
- Teach values
- Act as arbitrator
- Serve as a confidant
- Model attitudes toward aging
What grandchildren can do for grandparents…
- Source of biological continuity
- Enhance self-esteem
- Provide vicarious accomplishments and pride
- Serve as a social contact
- Keep them up-to-date (like how to use a cell phone or I-Pad!)
- Provide assistance to keep independence (help with yard work or running errands)
