Are "grand parents" better today?

United States
March 12, 2007 8:31am CST
Do you think that many grand parents today are just "younger" acting, hence making them just seem like better grand parents then yesteryears? There's such trends as vacations with the grandkids and things like that that prove to be something my grandparents had never heard of I'm sure! Do you think it's because grandparents today are younger themselves or do you think it's simply the difference in lifestyles, since most grandparents today are now the baby boomers of yesterday?
6 people like this
28 responses
@Deane_2005 (1644)
• Philippines
13 Mar 07
I don't consider grandparents much better than before , it really depends on the culture and how they were brought up. Besides my grandmother is really great and I rather find grandparents tends to spoil their grandchildren even more today. I think every grandparents is the best for me because they had done enough for their children and that makes them a great grandparents for me.
2 people like this
• India
13 Mar 07
This is because everything has modernized now.In the past they were very much in to the old deglamourized world,which has completely changed today.Today the grand parents are very much active and tend to be rocking.But I loved the old ones.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
12 Mar 07
My Grandsons - Hunter 5 Tyler 7
I being a grandparent can recall my grandma only. She was very old when I was a child. The only thing I ever recall doing was taking care of her at the family BBQs and picnics. She was not very active with us grandkids. Now I on the other hand have more energy being only 52. I've dome more with my 2 grandson than I did with my daughter when she was a child. I feel it's the lifestyle we now live. We're more athletic & more enegetic than the grandparenst of yore. LOL Thanks for a great discussion. AHAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!
@zeb_bhai (28)
12 Mar 07
well i really dun kno about todays grandparent... cuz i only had dem once lol and trust me i dun even wana talk about it still, as my grandparents they neva took my family as thier own and treated us like ... so i jes hop dat in todays world there isnt any grandparent jes like mine...
2 people like this
• United States
13 Mar 07
My kids got short changed when it comes to grandparents. They haven't send them a Christmas Gift or a Birthday gift in about 4 years now. Each year I get a card at Christmas and send it to my parents with a picture of my kids. This year my 13 year old said she didn't want to send them anything. I reminded her that she was a much better person then them, and it wasn't about what she was recieving but about what she had to give. She took the card and wrote. "I hope your Holiday is as Wonderful as you Are" Seems it was! Safe Hugs Patty
2 people like this
• United States
12 Mar 07
I don't think that the grandparents of today are better. I think that it is just a different time. I think that it was better before. Grandparents for us had actual wisdom. Now there is nothing for the grandparents of today to have much wisdom about. Our grandparents actually went through hard times and had hard lives. Now the best thing grandparents can say is that we went through a depression which was nothing compared to what our grandparents went through. Grandparents now also seem to bend to the will of the grandchildren. Before we were spoiled, but these little children now get away with yelling at their grandparents. What happened to the people that used to teach us what was right and wrong, and who used to let us know that we were wrong, and how things could have been handled better. We had harsh grandparents, but now there is no one teaching what life is really about.
@Inklings (1255)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I think that in general, people "seem" younger than they did years ago. If you look at old pictures, even people in their forties dressed old (think sensible shoes!) and had old lady hairdos. We have loosened up a bit now! I'm a grandma to 4 kids (19 months, 18 months, 7 months, and 6 weeks) so of course, I think that grandparents are cooler than ever before! :O)
@missyd79 (3438)
• United States
14 Mar 07
i was just talking about this with my sister today, so weird. I was saying about how when we were little we would spend the summers with our grandparents so that my mom did not have to pay someone to watch us during that time. but to get our mom to watch our kids for a couple hours is like pulling teeth. i just do not understand it. I thought grandparents are suppose to help out, i know my grandmother helped my mom out with us, so why doesn't my mom help me with my son. i am not asking for much but she is always traveling and is hardly ever home, which i think is great for her but i find it selfish too, or maybe i am just being selfish. it just seems like times changed.
1 person likes this
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
12 Mar 07
My dad is 64. For his birthday he spent the day playing paintball with his grandsons! I can't imagine my grandparents doing that in their 60's. So I definitely think people in North America are younger now than they used to be.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Mar 07
Yeah, these are the type of things that make me wonder too. It's so kewl though isn't it?
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I am one of the baby boomers, and I keep myself very busy I work all day come home babysit for grandkids. I bike ride go walking play basketball with the grandkids.I just dont sit around you have to keep yourself busy.I also work in my garden mow the grass when it needs it.
• United States
12 Mar 07
I think a lot of it is because they are so much younger themselves.They are able to do more plus I also think that advances in health care have advance to. I have noticed that some elderly aren't slowing down due to age as early and I really think the health care industry is responsible for that
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Mar 07
I have to agree...whatever it is I love that they are so vivrant and enjoying life!
@mujtab20 (434)
• Nigeria
13 Mar 07
I dont think so, but then as you already said, there are differences in lifesyles, most especially if the grandparents are younger.
• China
13 Mar 07
i dont think that todays grand parents are not that good comparing to yesteryears.years ago they used to take care of their grand children more than thier father or mother the change in costumes and globalization has just changed the entire situation and now the grand parents are just turning out to be history.but comparing east with west its better out there .good luck of the children there.
@mithun30 (46)
• India
13 Mar 07
yes they are the only caring persons according to me they care 4 me better than their own children
1 person likes this
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
13 Mar 07
Great discussion topic! My parents are both in their early fifties and have 3 grandchildren, I don't think I've ever seen them glow so much! You raise an interesting point, that grandparents are typically younger than what they were fifty years ago. I think this has something to do with the fact that many women are having children before they are married (hence much younger)and grandparents are around to spend time with their grandkids while they still have a full tank of energy and great health. All in all, I don't know if I'd say grandparents today are "better", it just might seem that way because they are able to be more involved in their grandkids' lives.
1 person likes this
@divir_vij (1591)
• India
13 Mar 07
yes indeed they are much more intelligent and understanding. this is because most of them are educated and know whats good and whats bad. My grand parents are just wonderful...
1 person likes this
@shila07 (514)
• Bhutan
13 Mar 07
Yes its true that the grand parents of now are far educated, understanding, younger, loving and caring. They understand our problems. My mother used to tell that her Grand mother was so cruel, she used to beat her often. Noawadays, my mother inlaw is best baby sitter i have ever found because, she takes care of my son so nicely, i need not have to do anything except to feed only. My son is very lucky to recieve care and love from grandmother.
• Philippines
13 Mar 07
yes i think grand parents nowadays are juch coller than our grandmas before. i dont know. even my mom is cooler than before when it comes to my nephew.
@subathra (3519)
• India
13 Mar 07
our generation Grandparents are much better.My grandmother is 84 but she is very active..and participate with us in watching new movies too.They adjust themselves with grandchildren and other family members in all matters.They accept the change of life style and co-operates with all.the immense care and love to them will make them even much better
1 person likes this
@antintan (87)
• Sweden
13 Mar 07
Grandparents of today are generally far better today. They have means, money, and health to do things with their grndchildren. Besides attitudes have changed. Before grandparents were more authoritarian, they thought that respect and even fear was important. Today grandparents are more open and can paly and have fun with thir grandchildren.
1 person likes this