GRANDPARENTS ARE JUST GREAT
DID you see the research out last week saying that grandparents can be bad for their grandchildren’s health?
The study from the University of Glasgow says grandparents are often inclined to treat children, overfeed them and not give them enough exercise.
Well, that may be true in some cases. But what about the wonderful benefits grandparents bring?
Of course I don’t agree with drinking recklessly and smoking in front of children.
But being a grandparent is a wonderful experience and, in the vast majority of cases, they are incredibly important in a family. They’re invaluable.
So often these days it’s the grandparents who help to look after the children in a family. The creche of mum and dad is becoming ever more evident.
In lots of families, both parents are out at work and childcare is expensive so the grandparents are stepping in to help with childcare.
I would think parents in that situation are grateful of the support they are receiving – and are probably happy to turn a blind eye to a bit of over-indulgence.
Besides, aren’t grandparents meant to spoil their grandchildren now and again? It’s in the job description!
The vast majority of grandparents are doing a great job. They enrich families. I see it all the time when I take my Tennis On The Road sessions around the country.
We often have Granny and Granddad taking part in the parent and child sessions. It’s lovely to see.
The way young people communicate these days is increasingly with screens because they rely so much on social media.
Having the younger generation spend time with older people is so important. Getting youngsters to engage with Granny and Granddad can only be a good thing.
I think the benefits are most definitely two-way, though.
For older people, having grandchildren around can give them a new lease of life and a spring in their step.
All my life I’ve worked with young people. I think that contact has definitely kept me young at heart, active and willing to have a go at new things.
Being a grandparent can be a balancing act. Each generation bringing up children has its own ideas and way of doing things.
And many grandparents learn to pick their arguments and decide when to bite their tongue.
That’s just part and parcel of life and especially life within a family.
I think we should be celebrating the great job grandparents are doing. In so many cases, we’d be lost without them.
Childcare is so expensive so the grandparents are stepping in to help