How to Become the Best Grandparents

When your child has a child of his or her own, you are thrown into the world of being a grandparent. This is not always easy. Your son or daughter may have completely different ideas of how to parent than you do and it is not always easy to resolve those differences. The best advice is simple; if it’s not life threatening, let it go. When the grandchild comes into your home, you can expect the child to abide by your rules. Especially if you are baby-sitting the child while the parent works.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A sense of humor
• Toys
• Clothing
• Diapers, formula, etc

1. Let your son or daughter know that your rules apply in your house. If you didn’t allow your children to jump on the bed, don’t let your grandchild.
2. Remind your grown children that you did manage to raise them to adulthood. Children are still children, even though they may have more opportunities than your children had at the same age.
3. Tell your adult child what a great parent they are being. Watch for the little things; the hugs, the kisses and the words of praise they give their children.
4. Buy extras of everything. Have diapers, formula, if needed, and clothing for each of your grandchildren at your house. Keep extra age appropriate toys and if necessary, have a playpen or portable crib for naptime. This will save the parent from having to haul things back and forth.
5. Feel free to spoil your grandchild, at least a little bit. But watch the candies and cakes, excessive sweet treats lead to obesity.

Tips & Warnings

• Always discuss with the child’s parent feeding schedules. Don’t feed your infant grandchild solids before the parents are ready to start solids.
• Discuss appropriate toys for the grandchild. Don’t buy things that the parents don’t want the child to have.
• Take pure delight in the time you have with your grandchildren. Part of the joy is knowing you can give them back to the parent when they get cranky.
• Spend as much time with your grandchild as you can. Having grandparents can make a child feel even more secure.
• Never undermine your grandchild's parents by allowing them to do things that you know the parent doesn't approve.
• Never bad mouth the parent to the child; this will only lead to hard feelings and a child that feels torn apart.