Competitive Grandparenting

With our first GC we went to see mother and baby 36 hours after C section, when we arrived an aunt and her partner were already there. They had heard the news and jumped on a train, DS was mad that they had jumped the gun but it didn't really matter who got there first.

I have 2 GC on other side of the world whose maternal grandparents are 20minutes away, and I’m so glad they ha e those grandparents. Ridiculous all this jealousy etc. Sorry but it makes me cross when GN posters whinge at only seeing their grandchild once a fortnight or something. I’d love that !!

Yes, this one common issue that creates a lot of conflict

It depends on the situation really. Sometimes one set óf grandparents are very obviously favoured over another in a way that's hurtful. You can't criticise those grandparents for feeling slighted or upset

"M0nica" Grandchildren should be part of our lives, not all of our lives. That's the most sensible thing I've read on GN.

I've been on the receiving end of competitive grandparenting at Christmas and birthday. My son couldn't get near his nephew because of his grandad (other side)taking him away, lifting him up and generally being a nuisance. It was so noticeable that grandad's mother in law gave him a row. I've been aware of it since grandson was born and I ignore it. It's a bit pathetic really.

No competitive grandmothering in this family. The other grandma was there for the birth, she is DDil's mother, and we went up once the birth had happened. DDil's mother lives a few miles away, we live 200 miles away.

We have both crafted entirely different styles of grandparenting that suit us and our circumstances. Our families are so close we stay with the other grandmother when we visit and she comes to stay with us and both of us speak of the other as 'family' and share all family occasions.

I always feel very sorry for those people whose only interest in life is their grandchildren. I feel in many ways they are cruising for a bruising, family break-up, grandchildren growing up and so many other events can lead to the collapse of what is an inherently fragile relationship and they are then left utterly devastated with nothing in her lives.

Grandchildren should be part of our lives, not all of our lives.