But when I visit with Grandma and go shopping, she always has plenty of time and lets me look at whatever I want to. Children have someone to talk with and confide in. While children may want to be different from their parents, they often don't mind being like their grandparents. This gives grandparents a lot of power and ability to influence a troubled or confused child. Through sharing in a grandparent's interests, skills, and hobbies, children are introduced to new activities and ideas.
Grandparents can be very patient, effective teachers.
Knowledge, skills, and attitudes children pick up from grandparents tend to stick with them through life more than those picked up from other sources. They don't feel the pressure they felt as a parent. There's a saying that a mother truly becomes a grandmother the day she stops noticing all the terrible things her children do because she's so enchanted with all the wonderful things her grandchildren do. As a grandparent, you get all the benefits and joys of parenthood without many of the drawbacks. Maybe you weren't able to spend as much time with your own children as you would have liked, or made some mistakes you've now learned from.