Times change and new ideas emerge about child rearing. Building good family relationships between you and your adult child and spouse is the key to being a successful grandparent. Discussions on child rearing should be the primary responsibility of parents. Unasked-for advice usually sounds like criticism. Also, grandparents may seem so capable that young married couples may feel less adequate in comparison.
Some grandparents have little interest in pursuing relationships with their grandchildren.
Time and distance limit the opportunity grandparents and grandchildren have to spend together. A child's divorce also may be painful for grandparents. If their child does not receive custody rights, they may be cut off from seeing their grandchildren. Many states now have visiting rights for grandparents in this situation. Grandparents also may be faced with caregiving responsibilities to help the two generations they love.