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Grandparenting

How often do you see your grandchildren?

(67 Posts)
Lillie Fri 12-Aug-16 14:12:54

Daily, because they only live round the corner. When we last moved we chose to buy a house close by.

I think we are probably overdoing the GP bit, because like millymouge our own children missed out on GPs - my own parents had died and DH's spent no time at all with them. I'm making up for it!

nonnasusie Fri 12-Aug-16 13:37:27

We live in Italy so it's only twice a year, summer and Christmas for definite. They come here when they can but are all tied to school holidays when flights rocket!! It's quality time when we do see them because they are staying at our house or we are staying with them.

ninathenana Fri 12-Aug-16 13:24:04

I saw them 4-5 days a week up until 2014 whilst D was with their father. Now they are living 20 mins away and I see them once or twice a month if I'm lucky. In November their father is moving them to another county so who knows sad

millymouge Fri 12-Aug-16 13:21:00

We have seen all six of our grandchildren regularly from birth. Three of them every day, and the other three several times a week. Actually DH and I were saying this morning how lucky we are that we see them so much. I cannot understand how my mother seemed to have very little interest in her 4 grandchildren, never anxious to see them or want them to visit and spend time with her. I think she missed out on a lot.

Mamie Fri 12-Aug-16 13:17:19

We live in France, two grandchildren in UK, two in Spain. We see the children in Spain once a year on average and the children in the UK about six times a year.
Not as often as we would like to see them but we Skype / Facetime every week. It gets easier as they get older. They get in touch independently now for help with homework etc.

merlotgran Fri 12-Aug-16 13:14:49

Two DGSs live next door so I see them nearly every day. The others all live three hours away in opposite directions and we see them two or three times a year.

We do see more of the eldest DGC now he is at uni and has his own car. He's driven up twice this year to see his cousins and have a decent meal bit of quality time with us.

Anya Fri 12-Aug-16 13:07:32

Several times a week

SueDonim Fri 12-Aug-16 13:04:37

I see two of our grandchildren once a year, twice at most. They live in the US so more is not possible. However, when we see them, we stay in their house or they're staying in ours so we have intensive time together.

Our other grandchild lives over 500 miles away. We see him four or five times a year, usually for a few days at a time, so again it's quite intensive. He's old enough now that he remembers us from visit to visit and always seems happy to see us!

Waveney Fri 12-Aug-16 12:59:25

I am lucky enough to see my two gc a lot, as I provide childcare for Dd and s-i-l. As I was a single working mum it's lovely to be able to enjoy things I missed out on (like assemblies and sports day) .My younger son and his lovely wife are expecting their first child in November and it will be very different having a gc who lives two hours away.

NonnaW Fri 12-Aug-16 12:57:26

I am lucky enough to see my gorgeous step grandson (15 months) every week as we do a day of looking after him. However I have a granddaughter of 14 who I see maybe once or twice a year, generally for just a few hours. This is due to a combination of distance (though still in this country), family commitments (her mum has 2 other daughters and is now married to the father of the third), and a son who promises much, but delivers on little!

ginny Fri 12-Aug-16 12:47:48

We are very lucky as we see both our DGS regularly. DGS1 (13)lives 20 minutes away and we usually see him most weeks. He is spending the next couple of weeks with us during the day. We have arranged trips and friends joining him next week and then we will be in our caravan for the following week,
joining up with the rest of the family for bank holiday

DGS2 ( 6 months ) lives about a 10 min. car ride away and we see him two or three times a week.

Jane10 not smug, just very lucky
, as we are.

Tegan Fri 12-Aug-16 12:42:52

Currently looking after my granddaughter one day a week, which is lovely as we haven't really seen much of her since she was born [18 months now]. And I can drop in and see my two grandsons who live in the next village whenever I want to but, with the family being so busy I don't go very often. I do often have them after school so they don't have to go to kids club too many nights [my daughters school having scheduled her 'part time work' ie 3 days to cover 4 days, one day being one lesson at the end of the day which involved a long drive and the boys having to go to kids club]. I feel that, having had a few hiccups relationship wise over the years, we now have a good set up and I feel very, very lucky.

Jane10 Fri 12-Aug-16 12:32:15

I see our 2 DGSs at least once a week. Sometimes I sleepover there if DD and SiL are going on a night out. Sometimes one or other of them come to stay with us for a 'wee holiday'. All great fun. Sorry less fortunate GNers. I don't want to seem smug. These wee boys are an important part of our lives.

loopylou Fri 12-Aug-16 12:31:36

I usually see mine every few months but we FaceTime most weeks too. I'm about to spend a week with them, very much looking forward to it!

tanith Fri 12-Aug-16 12:26:33

One living abroad I see maybe 1 or 2 times per year but those living here I will see regularly the youngest one is here very often and starts High School 2 mins from our door so expect to see her even more often as she has told me she's coming here for her tea at least twice a week when she starts.. smile. The older grands are busy with work and life in general but we still see them quite often.

grannyactivist Fri 12-Aug-16 11:57:08

Those who are at a distance are seen rarely (flights to NZ are not undertaken lightly, but we are in regular Skype contact) and those who are nearer are seen often. For instance I have had two of my grandsons to stay for more than a week this summer and the 6 year old is returning on Monday until early September. They live about 90 minutes drive from me so we can't just pop in to see them, but we do make joint plans with their parents to ensure that we see them as often as is practical with all our busy lifestyles.

LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Fri 12-Aug-16 11:51:41

We've been asked to comment on this bit of research showing that over half of grandparents only see their grandchildren once a year. www.express.co.uk/news/uk/698997/grandparents-grandchildren-visit-relatives-family-once-year

Do you see your grandchildren as often as you would like? If not, why not? Is it busy lives, location, family issues that keep you from seeing them more frequently?

Would love to have your thoughts. Thanks smile