Why do you think grandparents love their grandchildren more than their own children ?

Question

It seems to me that grandparents love their grandchildren more than their own sons and daughters. Why do you think that is ? Or is it a wrong assumption and grandparents just miss the period when their children were young, and their relationship with their grandchildren is their way of bringing back those feeling of having kids and watching them grow up, after their own children grew up and are no longer dependent on them and barely even visit ?

I can't pick a best answer. There are so many good answers here. I'm going to let the voters decide.

I don't believe grandparents love their grandchildren more. I asked this question to find out what your opinions are. That's what yahoo answers is about as well.

Answer 1

Grandparents don't love grandchildren more than their own children although it can seem like that.

Think back to when you were growing up and compare their lives to yours now.... I bet there isn't a lot of difference.

When your bringing up children there is a whole lot of other responsibilities around you.....keeping house, the mortgage bills etc.

When we have grand children because we don't have the responsibility of them we seem to be able to see them more clearer and enjoy them better. I don't think i am explaing this well

Ask a grandparent if they have ever thought "I don't remember you doing that" or the biggest one "I feel like I missed out on this with you!"

Grandchildren give parents a second chance to enjoy the growing up of children again.

That's all it is to relive and enjoy again children.

Answer 2

I think a lot of it has to do with the lack of responsibility. Not as in, the grandparent isn't responsible for the grandchild, because they are, but more along the lines of "Grandma can feed the grandkids cookies when they're over at her house and feel no guilt for it" that they probably wouldn't have been able to do when they were raising the kids.

But I do agree with your second point. I saw a man the other day wearing a shirt that said something along the lines of "If I'd've known grandkids were this much fun I'd've had them first" that relates to this topic. Let's say Grandpa takes the kids out to the zoo once a month. That's a day of fun for both of them, and that's all Grandpa has to deal with. No school problems, no brother/sister squabbles, no whiny-face brattiness, like what Mom & Dad have to go through every day. It's just fun, and I think that's what manifests as "more love".

Answer 3

Oh think that what happens is that when your own children are young , you have lot of other pressures too, work and household tasks etc. AS a Nan a lot of these pressures are past and you can devote more time to the grandchild than you could your own children. As agrandad I knowthat to be so true.. When my kids were little I was at work all the time. 6 days a week / They were in bed when I got home. have spent much more time with my grandkids since I retired, love it and them. Doesnt meamn I didn't love my own kids too though.

Answer 4

I don't think Grandparents love the Grandchildren more, I think it's just that seeing the children of their children bring back memories of their younger years. I think it's a great thing. Grandparents give children something special...special memories to cherish and grow up with. I think it's because of how much they love their children that Grandparents love their Grandchildren. As we get older, our parents (at least mine) alwyas say...you have your own life and family now we don't want to bother you. Maybe that's why they don't visit as much.

Answer 5

I don't believe that we love our grandchildren more than our children. With grandchildren, you can love, and spoil them, then send them home. A grandparent doesn't raise them, and as a result, can simply enjoy being with them. It's alot different than with your own child that you raised, and disciplined, and were totally responsible for. Hope this helps you understand a little bit more than you did before.

Answer 6

it's so much more than all that. it's not that we love our grandchildren more, just different. nothing, ever could replace our own children. i can look at my granddaughter and see myself and my daughter in her face. it's amazing. the best part is that the baby goes home with the mother. it may seem like grandparents love more, but they don't, it's just that babies and little kids are fun to be around, after our children are grown, we want to play with and brag about our grandchildren, we love it when mom takes them home.

Answer 7

It feels that way doesn't it!I think they just aren't as busy and can enjoy them more.And they only see the good in thier little darling grandchildren hehe.I'm keen to see if any grandparents answer your question

Answer 8

Some of what you said is true. But they don't love more, they just have more time to play with them, more patience in guiding them and they don't feel as responsibility for the total well being of the child 24/7.

Plus they've learned something along the way that makes them more mellow and easy going.

Actually, it is their love of you - their child - that makes them view the grandchild more affectionately, but they don't love them more. They play with them more.

Answer 9

it's a blessing and an extension of themselves ,,, AND they don't have to raise them ,,,clean up after them ,,,,,get them outa trouble ,,,,,,say brush your teeth 5 times to get it done 1 time beg them or yell to practice there piano that you pay for, shut doors drawers lights cause THEY DON'T PAY BILLS : ( nuff said : )
im raising 1 more after 2 threw college im suppose to be retired myself and enjoying grand children at 45 but even after 2 i love my daughter i have now and its still better than a part time grandparent that just spoils them (parents love there own more)
just seems like they don't

Answer 10

Grandparents don't have to raise them, but they can spoil the kids and make their parents lives a misery...

If you don't like what they are doing, you can always stop them with a stern word!!!