I have been talking mostly about younger children and the incredible benefits they enjoy by being close to their grandparents. From the point of view of older children, the relationship, while different, can be equally invaluable. Many of us can remember how we suffered through adolescence, having to balance our desire for independence from our parents with the need to seek counsel and be protected from the hard knocks life can often fling at us. Those of us who could turn to a grandparent enjoyed receiving adult advice without having to jeopardize that all-important independence we felt so ambivalent about. Children today who do not have grandparents of their own are lucky to be able to adopt surrogates.
Several provinces have programs where older people volunteer to take on a grandparenting role.
Both the children and the older people win in these relationships. Grandparents are a source of constant support to grandchildren of any age. They provide respite to tired parents by taking care of the children. They share their energy lovingly with their grandchildren, providing them with a fresh point of view. Grandparents are the connection between the past and the future.