by Allen Teal

Created on: March 26, 2009

No one is quite prepared for what it is like to be a grandparent. The memories of raising your own children are far too powerful for anyone to expect having a grandchild to be anything but challenging. After all, everyone knows about the middle of the night feedings, hours of sleeplessness while trying to comfort a baby that just will not stay asleep, and the concerns about every sniffle, cough, and irregularity that might come along. There is good news. Those are the concerns of parents.

Grandparents get the enjoyment without many of the worries.

One thing that gets lost for many parents is the fact that babies are a lot of fun. You can watch them change and grow. You may miss the first step when the infant starts to walk, but you will get to see plenty of the 10,000. Unless you really enjoy changing diapers, you will not have to change any except when you agree to babysit. Grandparents get to hear many of the baby's first words without really having to wonder too much if they will ever talk.

Most grandparents get to choose when they will see the grandchildren.

Unlike your own children that are your responsibility 24 hours a day for every day of the year, grandkids belong to their parents. You are only responsible for them when you agree to be responsible. If you get tired of being responsible, you can give them back. It is a great life when it works right. Most parents, your children included, are usually glad for a break from the kids. So, if the grandparents want to keep them for a few hours or a day or two in some case, it will be alright. When the time is up, the parents are obligated to take back their children and care for them.

You can enjoy buying for the grandchildren because you can do it for fun and not necessity.

Parents have to make sure that their children are clothed and fed with a decent place to live. When the pantry or the closet gets bare, it is the parents job to restock it. If grandparents are out shopping and choose to buy their grandchild a new outfit or a bag of candy, it makes them a hero when the grandkids come by. If the parents do it, it is just expected. Sure these gifts may be a blessing to your child's family budget, but that is not usually the purpose for the purchase. These are gifts to express your love and joy toward your grandchild.

Some grandparents get pleasure from watching the grandkids tax the endurance of their parents.

More than one grandparent has expressed to their own child when listening to the horror stories of parenting, "Now, you know how I felt when you were young." The glee with which this is said may be troubling for some, but it is part of the pleasures of grandparenting. Obviously, this is not about legal issues. It has more to do with a two year old's 10 foot reach.

It is a great feeling to see your parenting skills being reproduced in your own children.

When your children are able to do a good job at parenting, it can be taken as a reflection of your skill in raising them correctly. If they exhibit patience and caring, it will often be ther result of the same being witnessed during their childhood. Watching your own children mature into strong adults and good parents is a nice payback for the agonies of parenthood.

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