It does sound like a bit of a phase Armoria, I truly hope it passes soon and all will be well. Wishing you all the best.
Covid vaccinations - should we still be having them?
Gransnet forums
Grandparenting
My Grandson is scared of me!
(117 Posts)It's getting to the point now that I really don't want to visit my son and daughter in law because my 22 month old grandson screams and cries and clings to his mum whenever I arrive. I have never ever done any single thing to warrant this and it is really upsetting.
I have a loving and close relationship to my daughter's children who are now 12 and 17 and when my son and his wife had a little boy in 2016 I could not have been more thrilled. We were not allowed to visit for the first week as they wanted to get established into a routine before having visits and also it had been sort of agreed that my daughter in law's parents should be the first to visit as the little chap was their first grandchild and we already had 2 so we had to wait until they had got round to visiting. I was a tad put out but went with it to keep the peace. When we did see him he was adorable but parents were suffering and sleep deprived so we used to take him out for a walk for a couple of hours or so to give them chance for a catch up nap and we absolutely loved the time we spent with him out and about.
When he was a few months old he had a stinking cold and reflux and at one point stopped breathing. They called an ambulance but after being checked out in hospital he was given the all clear and sent home. My son called me, he was overwhelmed and daughter in law a mess too so at 10.30pm we just got in the car and drove the 90mins to their house and spent the next 2 days and nights with them till they all settled. They are first time parents in their mid 30's, both professional people and absolutely no experience of children whatsoever. We continued to visit 2 days and nights a week until they seemed to be more confident and then we started stepping back to one a week. Also I am self employed and while I can juggle my work to fit in any family demands I cant always do so and there are periods where I have to work maybe everyday for a few weeks and I also help out my daughter with childcare for her youngest one and we do try to have a life of our own and go on holidays and breaks.
When little one was about 7 or 8 months old my daughter in law became very possessive, having now found her 'mummy feet' big time and she became his whole world whereas before she was happy to let us take him for walks, feed him, change him, cuddle him. If I were to even try to go near him or pick him up he would cry and rather than let me rock and shush him she would immediately take him off me, take him away and cuddle him. This went on for weeks and weeks and I eventually got so exasperated but tried not to let it show for sake of harmony but my son could see I was upset one time however they both said sorry if I was upset but they did not want HIM to be upset or cry and maybe it was because we didn't come over often enough and her parents were there every week or so. Her parents by the way are older and both retired, my son is also self employed so knows that when you have to work, you have to work. It got so bad that I would only have to walk in through the door and he would burst into tears, scream and hold out arms for his mum and she of course would always rescue him.
He's now nearly 2 and while he does not cry and scream so much he still does cry upon seeing me and will not go anywhere near me. Ive tried being casual about it, Ive tried holding something out for him to take, I've tried playing with him, talking to him but to no avail. If he is walking across the room and say I walk in he straight away turns around and goes back or does a massive detour to avoid me.
I am really at my wits end, He is OK with my husband, he goes up to him and holds his hand and plays cars with him. I want nothing more than to pick him up and give him a big sqwishy nanna kiss and cuddle, sing to him, read a book with him on my lap, take him for walks round the garden looking for bugs and things. All the stuff I did with my other grandchildren.
I have no idea what to do. I suspect it has been 'imprinted' on him that I am something to be scared of and to be mummy rescued from because of how each time he cried he was taken off me but I cannot say that without causing offence. He does not go to any kind of preschool, nursery or toddler group. My son works from home but little one is with mummy pretty much 24/7. They never come over to our house as a family. Son has visited just twice with him since he was born. We are expected to make the journey over to theirs which is 90 mins each way if traffic is OK. If she stays at her parents for a few days (they live about 13 miles away from us) she will meet us in town for lunch or an hour or so between his naps on one day. To be honest it's getting expensive for us to keep visiting especially as he has set naps so by the time we get there and he has been woken from his nap at the set time, we would have maybe a couple of hours with him before we would have to travel back as hubby and I dislike travelling along the country lanes in the dark so we end up getting a hotel so we can have longer with him.
It's got to the point where we just don't want to go but feel we have to to keep the peace and not be bad grandparents but how much longer can we keep doing this only for him to cry and rebuff my efforts. I am not a quitter and hate the idea of giving up on him but I'm absolutely at my wits end as to how to rectify the situation and get him to accept me. Sorry this is a long one but I am pretty desperate for any advice or help.
Children go through phases where they are afraid of someone with eyeglasses or a sudden loud voice or gesture. Once they have an episode of fearfulness, it happens every time they see the person.
When my oldest D was 7 months old, my mother's neighbor laughed out loud and startled her. That triggered a fear that lasted until D was fourteen months old. Every time the lady visited my mother and we happened to be there, my D would cry hysterically if she even so much as looked her way. One day we ran into the (very nice) lady in the lobby, started a conversation and surprisingly D didn't even react.....end of phobia.
It will probably pass if you can sit tight. I used to find it difficult that my DGS would cry and avoid me whenever his parents were around despite the fact that I looked after him twice a week. I used to rationalise it by thinking that he was worried that they might leave him with me but it was still upsetting. I have been looking after him for over 2 years and it was only about a month ago that they left him with me for a couple of days whilst they had a mini break. The change has been phenomenal. For the first time ever, he cried when I didn't take him back with me after dropped him back with them the other day. Of course I don't like him crying but it does show that the fear has gone. Be patient, it might take a while, but you will get there if you don't show too much angst to the child or parents.
Very often with the first child, parents are very protective. By the time the second one comes along, they are less restrictive.
My daughter moved and had a baby who's nine months old now and I knew if he didn't see me at least 4/5 times a week that he would become estranged from me..he is a very clingy baby.I suggested we live video each other via mobile phone at least every other day so the baby can hear my voice and get a visual of me to go with the voice...the call would only last between 5/15mins depending on how long daughter had time.This has worked extremely well for us as baby recognizes me when I go there (which is usually only once or twice a month)and will put his arms up for me to take him and becomes quite clingy with me then!..I wonder if this would be an option that could be considered in your situation?...it does really work.
As pp have said things will change.
My granddaughter screamed the place down and clung to mummy from eighteen months onward for a year.
Her distress could not be calmed and I felt so for her.
As for me I accepted it and found it pretty tiring to be honest.
When she got older she grew out of it and can now be heard out in the street gleefully shouting Nanny, Nanny, Nanny on arrival by car at mine. We can't wait to see her she's a joy. It's wonderful to know she is happy and free of the distress.
Just be yourself and you can't go wrong as children of a ages can sense if your nervous around them so be happy be yourself
I knew if he didn't see me at least 4/5 times a week that he would become estranged from me..he is a very clingy baby.I suggested we live video each other via mobile phone at least every other day so the baby can hear my voice and get a visual of me to go with the voice
NOOOO! Do not suggest this OP. It will make you look clingy and very obsessed with the baby. It will probably push her further away, if my mom or MIL suggested this I'd be running for the hills. No way would I do that
Gransthebest you must have a very close relationship with your daughter for her to allow that. But I don't really get why you thought the baby would need to see you or hear your voice 4/5 A WEEK! to not be estranged from you? Plenty of grandparents (lots on here in fact!) see their grandchild weekly or less and have very close relationship with them. That's more contact than some non-resident parents have.
Our youngest GD is a manipulative young lady
Or basically just a 6 year old kid.
I think the difference with Gransthebest and Armoria is that the former is a blood relation with the latter being an in-law. It does tend to be a different dynamic.
I'm speaking here from a DIL's perspective.
OP, from everything you've said, I don't think your DGS is scared of you. I think your DIL doesn't like you and this has transferred to your grandson.
You don't need to see a child frequently to have a good relationship. My PILs live a 2 hour flight away, and see my son every couple of years. he has an excellent relationship with them, because I encourage it. My DH loves his parents, but if everything was left to him, they would hardly know DS.
Ignore for now the fact that your grandson doesn't like you, hurtful as that may be. Focus on your relationship with your DIL. If you can improve that, I'm sure the relationship with her son would also improve. Maybe she has a very different personality to yours, and while she is probably very grateful for all your help and support in the past, she may still resent that she needed the help, and various little things you may have said and done, that in her mind build up. TBH, some of your comments do suggest that you don't agree with her parenting methods. If you are, however involuntarily, communicating that, the she will likely feel resentful, and not be willing to spend time with you.
The cardinal rule of successful grandparenting, is work on the relationship with the adults first, if you want a relationship with the child.
Children go through all sorts of phases.
They're fickle.
I think oldmom has hit it on the head. Your DIL is not helping in any way. She should be working with you to encourage the relationship between you and your GS. Do you think she may subconsciously resent the fact that you had to rally round when GS was a baby? I agree that the best approach is to work on your relationship with DIL, kill her with kindness!! Another thought I had do you invite them for Sunday lunch? GS can have his nap en route in the car. Good luck OP
They all go through this phrase I think. My older three, 3, 4 and 7, have all 'gone off' a certain person for a while, sometimes me, sometimes my husband, sometimes their other grandparents or great grandma - for no real reason. It will pass.
I agree that you should carry on as normal and make conversation with everyone but ignore your gs. If you catch his eye smile kindly but don’t try to engage with him. Slowly but surely he will come to you but don’t ever force it - always let children come to you on their terms. I would start off by maybe showing an interest in one of his toys but ignoring him. If he wants it back give it to him but you may find he will want to share your interest in said toy. Patience will almost certainly pay off. Good luck
As Peter Kay used to say in his advert " put your photo on the mantlepiece and the child won't go near the fire ".
He said it, not me but the thread title reminded me of it.
Oldbatty, what a ridiculous remake to make , this is her family.
Join the conversation
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »