Grandchildren Bring Joy and Happiness to their Grandparents

Grandchildren and grandparents share a special, love bond that lasts for ever. Let's take a look at this beautiful family relationship.

Reviewed and approved by psychologist Valeria Sabater.

Written by Valeria Sabater

Last update: 27 May, 2022

Grandchildren are that next generation that gives so much light and hope to every member of a family. And when it comes to grandparents, the relationship is very special and beneficial to both parties.

But there’s something important we need to think about. Today, we use the word “grandparents” to refer to people who have already, in general, enjoyed a very active life. And now, they tend to be more autonomous and continue to feel young at heart.

They’re individuals that enjoy their day to day lives and who connect with their grandchildren differently than with their own children.

It’s true that we all act as educators in society. However, the role that grandparents play in a family has many interesting facets. And that’s what we want to talk about today.

We invite you to reflect on the following.

Building an emotional legacy within the family

Fathers and mothers are often the ones who make the rules and decisions about what’s acceptable and not, in regards to whose responsibility it is to educate.

However, things are a little different when it comes to grandparents.

• Grandparents have already experienced this stage in life. That’s because, before they were grandparents, they were parents. They’ve already set guidelines and have lived up to their roles. They don’t want to have to be harsh anymore or to decide what can and cannot be done. Rather, they want to enjoy their grandchildren and build an emotional legacy.
• Grandparents and grandchildren generally share a sort of communication that is deeper than words. It’s full of mutual understanding, smiles, treats, and agreements… This promotes the psychological well-being of both parties.
• Regular interaction between grandchildren and grandparents offers grandparents new responsibilities and grandchildren learn insights that their father and mother cannot give them.

We understand that not all grandparents are the same, nor do they always establish such intense relationships.

It’s important to understand that the lives we lead have a great impact on us when we reach old age. In that sense, if we haven’t health with certain things by the time we’re older, we may feel a sense of frustration and negativism.

So, it’s up to parents to decide how often grandchildren should see their grandparents. What’s more, it’s up to them to determine whether or not this relationship is an enriching and beneficial one or note. However, in general, the relationship between grandchildren and grandparents is one of the most amazing relationships that exist.

Grandparents and grandchildren: A lasting emotional legacy

Day-to-day support from grandparents is a great help and relief for parents. Of course, this responsibility is nothing new. In fact, there are many generations that have shared the burden of caring for and attending to young children.

A grandparent’s legacy not only enriches the lives of the grandchildren, but also those of the fathers and mothers. They provide help, feedback, and support. In some ways, this even helps to strengthen their relationship.

• A grandparent’s legacy for his/her grandchildren is based on more than just fondness and emotions. It also consists of knowing how to instill values, pieces of the past, and family memories from past generations that also help the child to learn about the world and him/herself. In short, grandparents give them roots.
• Furthermore, the grandparents’ continual reflections and care and service also help the children envision what it means to “age with wisdom.” This is how they will learn not to fear the passage of time, but to see it peacefully.
• In addition, grandparents are always a sea of calmness and strategies for calming tension, arguments, and misunderstandings.

Grandchildren bring joy and happiness to their grandparents–and vise versa

While it’s true that today’s context is different, the essence is the same: Children demand independence, seek attention, have tantrums, make mistakes…

Without a doubt, grandparents can be of help when it comes to offering sound advice without interfering.

Grandchildren bring joy and happiness to their grandparents, and this has always been the case. Grandparents find themselves in a stage of adult maturity where their grandchildren offer delight and renewed energy.

Therefore, children can help renew “responsibilities” and help us see life as a continuum, with hope.

Grandparents don’t need to go back to being parents. Instead, they can enjoy the most intense and enriching emotions without pressures or obligations.

That’s why it’s always important to respect our grandparents’ independence and their right to do as they wish with their own time. This is something we, as parents, need to keep in mind.