Why do young non-grandparents frequent Gransnet?

I'm not a gran myself but up against a very difficult and overbearing MIL (a 'nanna' to my daughter so it's nice to get the perspective of a different generation in case I am missing anything. I also see posts from estranged grandparents or those who struggle with (for example) DILs and try to offer another perspective from the other side

MerylStreep Thank you, you are the first to say it here (to my knowledge, but honestly I cannot read everything on GN) but you are right when you say that some people are prickly when confronted straight answers… must be an old person’s trait. They are bristley - some are downright miserable.

But mostly the sweetness, empathy and humor comes through on GN. I love it. That’s probably why younger people come here for alternative advice.

I’m not saying that there are no ‘prickly’ types here, but it is not ‘an old person’s trait’. There are plenty of examples of that from younger people on MN too.

Unfortunately there is rampant ageism on both boards, which absolutely raises my bristles, as HQ does nothing about it. As you say though, there is also kindness and humour to balance it out.

I dont see a problem to be honest, a lot of the threads are not aimed at being a grandparent and so why shouldnt anyone join, grandparent or not ? It is lovely to have somewhere to go for opinions to problems etc .....

😊

Nice or nasty, prickly or a pushover has absolutely nothing to do with age. At every age some people are difficult in varying degrees or nice in varying degrees, similarly two nice people can be very different and not get in.

Age does not come in to it

I fit the demographics of the original post. In all honesty I hadn't realised it had an age limit or was specifically for Grandmothers(yes I have always been this way) I think I joined in more when we were all in lockdown and I was back to being a full time carer again and I had started to feel quite isolated and I think I suffer with ptsd from past trauma (not formally diagnosed but it would be unbelievable if I didn't have it) which had been triggered and I kept getting those daily/weekly emails and I just started reading and then found people were warm and welcoming and of all most interesting. I'm sorry if this makes people feel uneasy. I have a wide variety of aged friends, share my life with someone over 50 and my children are more or less all flown the nest already as I had them young, whereas some people my age still have babies or very small children so it s a different stage of my life really. I wish I did have grandchildren, it would be lovely as the most important thing to me is family.

Also, I find mumsnet overwhelming, as facebook really and twitter. I was born in the wrong era really

Well I’m over 50 but not a grandparent (and probably won’t ever be) but if I was I’d not want to talk babies and grand children all the time anyway. There’s so much I enjoy learning and in the right age bracket….so why not!

Ahh, JaneJudge, it’s nice to see you post. I haven’t seen you post for ages.

maddyone

Ahh, JaneJudge, it’s nice to see you post. I haven’t seen you post for ages.

Iagree, it's lovely to hear you again JJ

M0nica

Nice or nasty, prickly or a pushover has absolutely nothing to do with age. At every age some people are difficult in varying degrees or nice in varying degrees, similarly two nice people can be very different and not get in.

Age does not come in to it

Agreed.

And I also agree that it is good to see JaneJudge back with us.

Old, young, somewhere in between, parent, grandparent or neither. Just a bunch of interesting people with a variety of opinions and experiences. Love it.

Agree JaneJudge, always good to see you 👋

Thank you everyone I have had a very busy year, some of it very upsetting and overwhelming but I have still been reading, even if I haven't had time to post, You all really are and were very supportive of me and that is what being part of a community is about, isn't it? I'm very grateful. I had a thought when I went for a lie down after work, maybe part of it for me is I trust you all as you have lots of life experience. I attended a carers therapy group once a week and I was the youngest by about twenty years but I was accepted into that group as we all had the same experience of caring for someone 24/7 and our feelings, within that closed group, were all the same, no shame attached or anything. Our ages were not important and I think as women, we have a strength to support one another regardless of our age, background, culture. We all share same lived experiences, as well as being very different also.

I think it's very rude of you to be having a real life
You have been a real miss

JaneJudge good to see you posting.
🙂

I’d guess that younger people who aren’t either mums or nans, are just curious about Gransnet so have a look and then stay if they like it or vanish if they don’t.