Worrying as a Grandma

We all worry. The middle of the night is the worst. But try and focus on the here & now. Enjoy them, have fun. Sometimes life does throw a curve ball. Serious illness etc, and you find strength to cope. Perhaps it would help to take something. I find passiflora works when I need help.

I find that the worry for my grandchildren is worse then the worry for my children, as it is twofold! If there is a problem with, or anything happens to them, then the worry is for them AND their parents! At least it is for me!

I have four Grandchildren, but worry about two of them who have not had the best start in life with family issues, they are in their late teens now and seem to be doing well for themselves,I think issues have made them stronger and able to cope well.I always compare thier lives with the lives of my other two Grandchildren, who have had everything served to them since birth,I often think how unfair life can be, I do however say a Prayer for them every evening and hope that stands for something.It makes me calmer hoping I am helping in some way.

I worry too, but then I think did my Mother worry about my children? If so, why? Because my children were my responsibility and not my Mother's. so I turn that around and put my trust in my children bringing up their families in the best way they can. It's an enormous release.

Yes, I do worry but every single time, I pull myself up and tell myself to do something as a distraction so that it stops. They don’t live that close to me so I can’t really be that involved and anyway, you have to trust your own children to do their own thing in parenting their children. If I’m asked an opinion, i will give it, otherwise I keep out of things. I think there’s nothing more annoying than having grandparents in the sidelines fussing about the children. Try to fill your life with some other things, and trust that all will be well.

Hopefully your GC have parents to care and worry about them just as you did with yours no doubt. Were you aware of your parents worrying about your children? The world would seem as daunting a place to them when your children were young. Each generation finds something to worry about, think its human nature. You do seem to be just a bit too worried, you have to accept life will through at you what it will and there is little or nothing you can do to change that. Enjoy your GC now, appreciate what you do have.

Nanachel, I am that person! Trouble is today, one can’t avoid the “ child dies of sepsis, symptoms were missed”
“Child killed on road”, “child bullied at school”! A child this, a child that , child child child!!
I had six, worry worry worry....
Now got eight GC, and guess what? Worry worry worry. Worried before they were born! “Will it be ok?”
What if it’s ill? What if DIL can’t cope?
What if they get meningitis? then dies?
It never stops (well I’m 67so don’t hold your breath!)
What have I achieved? =nothing
Has it helped? = no.
Is anyone pleased I worry? = no.
Is it, in fact, detrimental? = YES, with bells on ?
Visualise pressing the “ anxiety on/off button, we all have ,say, behind your ear, Think of something happy, ie; chocolate, Cillian Murphy, being amazing, and just know you’re spoiling your life if you carry on cos it’s exhausting!
What will be,will be.
You know that. ?☺️???

@nanachel your op really hits home with me. I too worry so much about my dgcs! What has made it so much worse is that my 2nd dgs was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect just before his first birthday! After tests his father ( my sil) was confirmed as also having a defect that he was unaware of, however thankfully neither of their other 2 children are affected and as it was linked to him the rest of my dgc are not at risk. It doesn’t help me worrying about them though as I have a congenital defect, which I only found out about last year!

I do have to get on with my life though and let them get on with theirs as there is nothing I can do about things outwith my control. I try to keep my worries to myself as I don’t want my family thinking I am overprotective.

Worry takes away today’s strength, not tomorrow’s sorrow ?

It's normal to worry but it needs to be controlled otherwise it gets out of control.
My mother-in-law used to get so anxious that she made the children anxious. I found myself beginning to get the same so I reined back and just enjoy their escapades now !!
I'm not saying I am not responsible with them but try to relax

I do not worry about them in the general way that OP is talking about.

I worry when there is a specific problem on the go, and do my best to support their parents.

Sometimes when their parents are worried about something, it is me who is not worried and I am able to reassure them from a broader prospective on life. e.g. GS getting lots of detentions for not doing homework - my advice was not to worry - but only worry if the detentions were for unkindness/bullying etc.

Maybe I should worry more about my grandchildren but I don't. My daughter's are very good mothers and devoted to their families. I'm sure they worry but unless they tell me of a specific problem I try to leave the problems to them. Thinking about it I must sound very selfish but I have plenty else to worry about and I'm here if they need me.

Worry doesn’t help anything. Totally agree with sodapop

It’s only natural to worry about those closest to us we have seven grandchildren and worry about them and support them best way we can in all aspects. One was being bullied at school, we did not wait to find out what my daughter and son in law were going to do about it, when I was collecting the GS from school I found the bully and his dad and told them in no uncertain terms what I would do if it happened again. The bullying stopped.

You make sure they have the life skills that they need to keep them safe, without frightening them. A grandma can help with telling the time, crossing the road, tying shoe laces, how to cross the road, use a bus, etc. etc. My grandson is seven, he comes to me every Wednesday, and I try to think of things he has never done before. One of his favourite jobs is "flame throwing" - using a gas burner to burn the weeds if the weather is dry. I know he understands what fire is and can do, he started lighting our open fire under supervision when he was very young, and can now also light our 10 ton steam engine. There is always an adult right behind him throughout. He also understands what gas is and can do, good and bad. He can use a microwave, and make cakes using a Magimix. He knows all the ingredients, how to weigh them up etc. etc. My only input is pouring the mixture into the tins, and putting them in the oven, and taking out when cooked. My parents taught me to be very independent. 2 days after leaving school at 18 I travelled to Switzerland by train, on my own, to work in the Guides International Chalet. I'd like to say that my Guide training has been invaluable throughout life. I married a Scouter, he drove a Land Rover overland to Australia when just 21, with some fellow Scouters!

You are not alone nanachel I’m afraid I worry about them constantly, sometimes probably disproportionately. I realise that worrying won’t make any difference, but yes I do pray for them and then give myself a lecture to stop worrying so much and go and do something active to distract my thoughts.

When my children and later granchilden were out of my sight I worried constantly about everything anyone could imagine. wish I could be like my dd and say if it happens you cannot change it and the sad thing is you can't.
Best to keep busy with other things.
Find something you like doing and makes you happy ? Learn to laugh at silly things.

Never seen the point in worrying, it usually doesn’t change anything. Life is to short to waste it on worry. I’ve had cancer twice in the last 3 years and it may well be back again (currently waiting on some results) worrying isn’t going to influence these. Enjoying myself and my grandchildren while I’m here makes a lot more sense

I'm sorry you are worrying soon much. We all worry at times by when it takes over your life it's so unproductive. I find , find something to do physically, walking, cookng, baking knitting or indeed anything you enjoy is helpful for taking your kind off your worries. Volunteering to help others. Helps too. My parents always tuaght me to be productive as worrying is so negative because we concentrate on the worst scenarios. Just do something else.

I do worry a bit about my 4yr old dgs.

He has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy. He has had two seizures so far and very worrying for my Dd as she had to accompany him in the ambulance with the blue lights flashing.
He is now on medication and so far has been ok. But there is always that little niggle in the back of your mind.
(What if he has another one).
I try not to worry, But. You never know.

I totally agree with Sodapop. I worry about my adopted grandson ,as he has several problems relating back to the first 18 months of his life.I have 3 granddaughters ,one adopted and two ,300miles away, who lost their Mum ,my daughter, when they were 4 and 2 -now14 and almost12. I do worry , but not out of proportion. Your worries do seem to be rather too much. Nanachel.

I was told that you feel as passionate about your grandchildren as you did about your children. Personally, I think you feel more passionate about the GC, and of course you worry about them.

Part of that is because you don't have control over their care. It's especially hard when their parents have divorced and the children are cared for in 2 homes - you can't dictate what happens at all. You just have to accept that, usually, the parents are doing their best (even if it doesn't match your best) to care for your GC, and trust them to do that.

Then just give your GC all the love, time, encouragement and upbringing that you can. Be there for them if they ever need your support.

No I don't need to worry unless they were in a difficult situation or were very ill. My mother worried over everything I prefer to be an optimist generally.

If you pray, then you may have heard the phrase, "Let go and let God" In other words, let God deal with it.

Good advice because your worry is just going to ruin your health and then what use will you be to your grandchildren?

Look back at your own children's lives and see that when things went wrong, they overcame them.

Strange as it may seem, every problem, drama and disaster I have encountered - and believe me I've seen my fair share - have all made me stronger and taught me something.

It's the same for everyone.

Your grandchildren will be just fine. Not so sure about you though if you continue worrying like this.

Let go and let God.

Of course we all do but you have to not let it be all consuming I think you need to step back and only worry when there is something to worry about
Are they ill?
Are they bullied and unhappy at school?
If not then you must move away or it will transfer to them and they will pick up on all your fears