Our Tips for New Grandparents
There is something uniquely amazing about becoming a grandparent. It is such a rewarding experience and one that is very different than becoming a parent. It is easy for new grandparents to become a bit carried away with their latest role or even overwhelmed with not knowing how to support their children in this new chapter. If you’re about to take that big step into this exciting time, check out these tips for new grandparents to make the most of this wonderful new journey.
Know What it Means to be a Grandparent
As grandma/granddad, you hold a very special role, but that role is not as a parent. It is important to take a step back and let your child be the parent.
It is also important to realise that you may not be the only grandparent pining for time with your new grandchild. Parents may feel pressure to delegate time between grandparents, so it’s vital to respect this to keep relationships smooth for the sake of everyone’s well-being.
Keep Advice to Yourself… Unless Asked!
You may feel like you could give some great advice to the new parents on how to do things, or how things should be, but try to hold back, unless specifically asked. You should let the parents do things their way, whether it is what you would do or not. It may be tempting to jump in there with some unsolicited advice, but this is not always received well. You must let parents do things their way, and only offer advice when asked.
Offer to Help
You’ve been there – parenting can be tough! Sometimes a little helping hand can go a long way. Offering to help the new parents can bring them a huge sigh of relief if they choose to take it. It doesn’t necessarily have to be directly helping with the baby too. It could be little things like doing some washing or cooking.
If the new parents decide not to take your help, don’t take it personally. They may have a good handle on things but knowing that you’re there to help when needed will be most welcomed.
Ask Before Buying
Grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren, and this often starts before they are even born. Before going out to spend a load of money on something they already have, it is always worth asking the parents what is needed, especially since they may already have the essentials or prefer to get them themselves. This will be of so much more help than multiples of something they only need one or two of, and it will be much appreciated too! Plus, you can take great pride in knowing you are helping prepare for baby’s arrival by getting things that they really need and that parents will use.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feel like you can’t get your new grandchild a gift. Gifts from grandparents are treasured, and if you’re looking for something special to give your grandbaby, Beautiful Bambino have you covered with some lovely ideas here.
Get Ready for the Remarkable Times Ahead
Finally, get ready to make the most of every moment in your promoted role of grandparent. Simply respect any boundaries and rules set by the parents, be there when needed and enjoy quality time with the newest addition to your family!