Many see their retirement years as a respite from decades of meeting their children's needs. There are grandparents who feel like, 'I've been there, done that. When they make these permanent moves away from their families it almost seems as if they're choosing to miss out on their grandchildren's lives. But, she adds, grandparents like Adleman, who lack an outlet for the love that fills their hearts, understand that they have something unique to offer their grandchildren. We're losing a sense of community.
Grandparents offer support and stability.
Parents are infected by anxiety and overwhelmed by the dos and don'ts of parenting. Grandparents are outside that daily grind, and they bring a different perspective. That's why strong relationships with grandparents can strengthen the entire family, she notes. We grandparents listen differently. We can be more patient and accepting than parents.