Grandparents: their influence in your life?

Question

I am writing from Italy (Rome). Grandparents in Italy are very important in the life of children (they are often considered "second parents"). If you want you can write your experience on this so I can have the possibility to know the thoughts of another Coutry.

Answer 1

I hardly remember my grandparents. From what I have been told, they never played an important part of my life (I really don't remember them anyway). I like to think that I have played a very important role in my grandaughters life and soon, God willing, will be the same for my forthcoming grandson. I feel it's a blessing that we get a 'second chance'. I live for my children and my grandchildren and there is nothing I wouldn't do for either. We are them and they are us-that's how I feel anyway.

Answer 2

I will always cherish the memory of my grandparents. My Gran (Mum's side) was like a doting second mother to me. My Granny (Dad's side) was old fashioned and a really tough disciplinarian. She never hit me, never had to because my Dad told me his horror stories. Really not abusive, but she was one to smack if necessary.
In truth a dear, sweet woman.
One Grandfather died when I was quite young, but he always did kind things for me, the other did as well.
So, Grandparents, aunties and uncles, all were and are very important to me and very influential.
Gram's love of learning got me to where I am in college--mum too, but Gram could get through to me.
Granny's earthy, sensible manner and conservative attitudes toward money. Sheer practicality has rubbed off.
The grandfather who lived the longest: Gave me, more than anything, a sense of who I am and will be over the decades of my life.
And they all instilled in me the wisdom that comes by living. A wisdom that can not be specifically pinpointed but has bolstered all my parents gave me, and has I think, worked to make me a far more mature man than my years.
[I hope this helps] One side from Ireland and Scotland (Mum), the other Wales and England.

Answer 3

I think this is prevalent in more traditional homes, particularly those with European ties. I was the fifth of six children, so I didn't get to know my grandparents very well, as they all died when I was young. But I see by my older sisters, now that they are grandparents, how very valuable and important and wonderful they are to their grandchildren.

Answer 4

My Grandmother just died last week. Its been a very sad time. She had an enormous effect on the whole of my life and was an extraordinary woman. People in Britain seem to disregard the elderly and its why the whole country is in the gutter!!! We could learn so much from our grandparents.

Answer 5

UK my children love their grandparents very much and see their maternal grandparents everyday we go out as a whole unit that's grandparents , aunt uncle and cousins we are all one big family we tell each other truthfully what we think of such thinks as a house they want to buy where they are going wrong if they have any problems we sort things out as a family however we find it difficult to let others into our family

Answer 6

I am answering this question not being the child but being a grandparent. I only have one grandchild and she is the most important person in my life, I love her to bits and would do anything for her. She is only three but I hope I am around long enough to see her grow up into a fine young lady, if not I hope she will remember me as someone who loved her uncondionally..

Answer 7

I am from India and grandparents are considered very important in a child's bringing up. I am very lucky to have spent time with all 4 grandparents when i was a child, now unfortunately only 1 is still alive.

My grandmother (dad's mom) named me after her name so she was very special to me.

I loved the stories my grand mother used to tell me, my grandfather used to buy me and my sister lots of fruits and teach us how to select fresh fruit, and he used to help us do drawings and colouring. and my mom's mom is the best cook in the world. even today when i visit her, she makes wonderful food for me.

I live in Britain and here it is sad to see a lot of old people in old age homes and no children / grandchildren visiting them...

Answer 8

In my family my mum's parents didn't really have much to do with us as they didn't like boys and my mum had 2 of them. However my dad's mother (my Gran) is fantastic. She used to babysit for us and taught me a lot when I was younger and has a very good sense of humor even now at 89yrs.

I can remember her telling me ata bout 6 or 7 about hangovers and to give people black coffee the morning after if they had had too much to drink. Looking back on it it makes me laugh as it wasn't until much later I knew what she was on about. Bless her.

Answer 9

i am a grandparent myself...a young 43 year old gran....from UK...i will influence my grandson (aged 2) in every possible way i can and teach him about himself and the people around him, he has a very close family and we all teach him somthing new every day...he is a very happy sweet little boy....my grandparents taught me to respect others no matter what and never see the bad in people...this i will teach him also...without a grandparent...there would not be a you....grandparents are a pecious gift...learn from them...listen to them...love them

Answer 10

It's the same in the U.S. depending on the people. Me- My grandmother has been like my mom for years. My daddy died when I was 7, and my mom went through alot of grieving and wasn't really in the right stage to be "there" for us. She had to mend her heart before anything. My grandma become my savior, my journal, my light. Spending time talking and chatting and having fun just being around each other. Still to this day my grandmother is number one in my life.