not realy feeling the grandparent thing

I haven't seen much of my GSs for several years because of DH's illness but I had a lovely morning shopping in Waitrose with GS1 today (thrilling I know!) Such fun to spend some time with him and, at 12, he's big enough and sensible enough to be helpful. Still love him as much as ever!

Sharpies there are threads for those dealing with estrangement, this one is different.

You would probably realise how much you loved your grandchildren if they were ill or anything terrible happened to them.

I did not write the above paragraph to be unkind or tempt fate. I truly think lots of people don't realise how much they love someone until they are put to the test.....

I think far more women don't have the maternal instinct than will ever admit to it. I love my AC but I always have a secret envy for those of my friends who chose not to have children.

I also love my grandchildren, but it is not a hugely deep love and it wouldn't be the end of the world for me if I never saw them again as long as I knew they were OK.

I have no real bond with my great grandchildren though, again, I pretend.

I still feel guilty about all this and in many ways wish I had had the bravery to say ' no children for me'. On the other hand I wouldn't want to be without them now and often think my childless friends have an empty future.

First time posting. So sad to see negative comments about GC I am estranged from my 3 , (through no fault of our own ) i was at the birth of one of my GS . All 3 (6, 1 and 6 months ) from same son 2 mothers he is not in a relationship with either now . My son is not allowed access either the girls have been really unhelpful and at times quite nasty , i have never said a bad word to either of them , one sent us photos earlier in the year and we saw GS and spoke to him on whatsapp video call for about a month then she blocked us again , by not allowing access they have no idea how painful every day is and how much hurt they are causing us .Interested how do other estranged GP's deal with this situation . Just live in hope every day for when /if i see them again .

I have written on this subject on several occasions, I know I once did an article which I entitled 'The last forbidden frontier'.
I was desperate to have children, they did no come as quickly as I would have liked after marriage. Took nearly five years to get the first one, then everything was fine and I had a further four over the next five years (ending up with twins). Also fostered babies, and one stayed and became our sixth child.
Loved those early school years, much preferred school holidays to school terms. They grew up and went on to Unis etc.
Discovered that having grown up adult children was really wonderful. Was slightly put out as they all got their own partners, but was prepared to cope with that.
Then the first one announced her pregnancy - and I was devastated. Not the usual response of a first time grandmother!! But it felt to me as I was now going to be pushed further down the pecking order with that child, and the while family balance was going out of gear.
He was born, and I tried very much to love him for the sake of my daughter. Over the years eight g.children have been born to my four daughters. All planned and very much loved babies. For my childrens' sakes I try to extend the bubble of love I hold for them to their children. Yes, I care for my g.children (one who lives near I have had a closer relationship with as her Mum became a single parent early on following a career, so I helped out. Must say am much genuinely closer to her now she is well into her teens and on her way to becoming an adult.
My g.children make my children happy - and anything that does that must be good.
However, I know I gave birth to the most wonderful, beautiful five babies in the world and no other baby can ever compare with them.
My g.children are now between the ages of 7 yrs and 19 yrs. I have a comfortable relationship with them all, but not really close. Visiting their parents homes, I much prefer when the children are in bed or out so I can just settle down with my own offspring.
Nothing wrong with this, I find it strange when people tell me that they love their g.children more than their own children.

Thank you for opening up this subject. So refreshing to read honest replies that give us permission to admit to wanting to enjoy our later years. We enjoyed having DGD for weekends but were wiped out by Sunday afternoon. I don’t know how grans do so much childcare and some also work. I’m happy to be in such good company on GN.

Not being bitchy but can people use paragraphs please?

Oh I feel you! I desperately wanted my own children, became a SAHM and spent an exhausting, but rewarding 16 years having adventures, fun and teaching them. I loved it, even though one child had ADHD (not diagnosed until she was an adult...now I know why she was so very exhausting!). I put my everything into bringing them up. I’m not into doing it again. I’m done. I have absolutely zero interest in friends babies and other peoples kids. I have one step-granddaughter who of course I love (and am currently concerned about), but spending time with her is SO stressful. I don’t want to play infantile games, I don’t want to watch banal cartoons, I don’t want my house messed up, smeared with snotty fingers or damaged now that we’ve finally got nice furniture. I can’t deal with the constant “I’m bored”, “I’m hungry” “Buy me this” “I need to go poop” (in the middle of a nice meal). The whole time I am with her I am not able to do anything that I want to do. Can’t even sit down with a cup of coffee in peace, or go to the bathroom without her knocking on the door “What are you doing Nana? Are you going pee or poop?” The sassiness, the meltdowns and tantrums. I’m usually hitting the secret stash of chocolate or wine within the first hour. The request of ‘Can you pick up/have GD’ honestly makes my heart sink. And yet I do love her and care about her. I don’t know what it is...Because I’m step-grandma, she wasn’t allowed (by her Mom) to call me Grandma, so that alone made bonding difficult. We were used as free childcare and a source of financial help for the first few years with no thanks and usually she wasn’t picked upon time ‘Can you watch GD for a couple of hours’ often turned into 8-9 hours and not being even able to contact her Mom by 9, 10pm that night. That caused resentment and a feeling of being used. Not having similar interests...GD likes TV and video games, not at all interested in the crafts and nature walks and reading that my own kids loved. Her upbringing has been so different that I find it hard to connect with her. At the moment I am concerned that she is being neglected/at risk in certain ways and I am totally and 100% prepared to have custody of her if necessary...and yet scared to death / dreading it if it actually came down to that. My own grandparents were absolutely wonderful, I spent every weekend with them and we had so many adventures and so much fun. I really wish I could be like them and give this child the grandma she deserves, but I can’t. I don’t know if I burnt myself out with my own kids, or whether I’ll bond more with any blood-related GC that come along in the future (my theory that my kids will probably bring their kids up in a more similar way to what I did with them...fostering a love of reading, nature, art and adventures). But rest assured, you are not alone. It’s hard when you see all your grandma friends on Facebook posting about how much they adore their grandkids and it makes you feel abnormal and mean, so you try to hide your feelings. But you really are not alone.

Yes, kudos to you, reluctant, for admitting your true feelings! You have a total right to them. It's wonderful that you can give of yourself, anyway, to your ac and gc. But perhaps you need to pull back a little. Only do what you can with a willing heart. Maybe plan a weekend away, now and then, so that you and dh get some couple time and the gc don't just happen to end up at your house. Just let the parents know in advance, so they can make other plans... Just my thoughts...

Bradford is right. If you look at Mumsnet there have been several threads where posters say that they either don't want children or, if they had their time over again, they would choose not to have them even when they actually love their children. In fact, a majority of my friends are child free by choice.

You are certainly NOT alone. My parents didn't want children and my paternal grandmother did not want them and actually disliked children (and had 11 !) My elder son cannot bear children around him.

There is nothing (apart from adverts and movies) which says a woman must love children and when people glibly say, ' a baby brings its own love with it' they are talking absolute rubbish.

Nor do you need to feel guilty about feeling as you do, why on earth should you? In fact you have done heroically giving your daughters such a good home, against all your basic instincts. You have a right to feel very proud of yourself.

Be aware too that so very many women, feeling as you do, don't dare admit it , in case they are seen as odd. Society expects women to coo and fawn over babies, doesn't it?
But look how many wise women are now deciding not to have children, rather than put themselves through a lifetime of pretence.

It's not unlike the way gay people used to have to pretend, in case they were seen as abnormal. Now, thank goodness, they can live honestly and with freedom to be who they are.
You can too

I wanted to thank you all for the responses. you have given me perspective.

oldest of 7 and I had lots of experience of childcare in my young years in the 50s. I had my own 3 and knew exactly what to do, competent and loving. I was also a teacher when I went back to work. I don`t do over fussing gushing grandparenting. Have always been there for my AC and my DGC and have lots of knowledge but keep the mouth zipped unless asked.

I value my own time, quietly grumbled to myself when travelling a 2 hour round trip just so parents could go out but did it, it is a grandparent duty as well as easing the adult relationship and seeing the dgc. I did the crafting with the dgc, told them stories, made food with them. Then comes the pre-teens and the digital age becomes more important. I never gushed about the dgc, they know I am here for them if needed but I have done my bit, reared my own children and several more besides

It is my time, at long last. The children have marriages and spouses, the dgc have good parents. They are small family units and I am on the periphery and I welcome that, it has been a long time coming

Yes, I was another mother who greeted with delight every sign of independence my DC showed from birth.

And I must say I am another who found it difficult to immediately bond with DGC and get very perplexed, and I confess, some times irritated by those on GN whose whole life is centred round their DGC and whose lives are utterly devastated when anything happens to disturb that relationship. Childhood is so ephemeral and these saame grandparents are so devastated and sometimes bitter when, as the children grow up they see less of them. I am not talking about grandparents providing essential childcare.

I find as my grandchildren grow older I get closer to them, we share interests and and attitudes, and can have serious conversations.

I'm not very maternal either.
When my own children were growing up my main aim was independence training.We did cuddle etc too. And still do.
As other say, we're all different, and times are different.
In the 'old ' days before birth control women popped out children whether they were wanted or not, which led to a different attitude.

I love my GC dearly but am not a hands on Gran whereas DH is very active with them. I enjoy one to one sessions with them but this is rare. However my nagging on picking up after themselves etc doesn't seem to bother them as they ring to ask if they can come and 'chill' even if DH is not available, so I must be doing something right!

I always wanted children, and I wanted grandchildren, too. I am lucky enough to have them. I never had any desire to spend my later years caring for the grandchildren, though. In fact I told my children before grandchildren were even thought of that I had been very happy to bring up children once, but I didn’t want to do it twice. I still feel that way.

My grandchildren live 200 miles away, so daily caring for them is impossible anyway. On balance I am grateful for that, because if I lived closer I might feel I wasn’t doing my bit, although I feel strongly that it’s the job of the parents, not the grandparents, to care for their children.

It’s the job of grandparents to take lots of interest in the grandchildren, send them cards and presents, talk to them when possible, admire photos of them and be proud of them. That’s enough.

Why do you work four 10 hour days a week? Are you giving too much of yourself to work?

I can understand that you feel you should be feeling more for your Gcs but honestly you sound as if you are the perfect mother and grandmother.
Children don't need all this fussing and spoiling and want to mature and get on with their lives. We are there to pick up the pieces and that is an important feeling of security for the younger family members.
Stop worrying about it.

There are many grandparents who are not so totally involved with their grandchildren as most on GN. We are not so open about it as its perceived by many as a ' bad thing'.
As others have said, don't beat yourself up about this we all relate to our families in different ways no right or wrong. I never had great maternal feelings and was sterilized at a fairly young age to ensure I had no more children. I love the children and grandchildren I have but don't feel the need to share their lives all the time.
You help where you can so don't stress about this, as JaneA said accept the relationship you have and enjoy that.

Reluctant you’re doing a great job helping your daughter so much.
Try not to overthink things.
I love my DGCs very much, but I don’t get this ‘bond’ and ‘connection’ thing that some people seem to set great store by.
Children are their own little people and if they belong to anyone, it’s to their parents and not to me.
It sounds as though you work very hard and perhaps it’s time to spend a bit more time on yourself, doing things that you really enjoy?
Don’t try too hard. Accept your relationships as they are - we are all different.

Hi reluctant grandparent. You are not alone and I could have written more or less the same post.

I have always related better to adults than children. What I have found is that as the grandchildren grow up they become a lot more interesting. Our oldest one is 18 in a couple of months and I really enjoy being with him, great fun and a lot of laughs. I found that once they got to about 10 things became a lot easier and that I loved them.

It sounds like you're doing a good job and I think just keep pretending and eventually you'll feel it. That said I still prefer spending time with just my daughters.

I am sure many people feel the same. I don't have grandchildren yet and am not really bothered at the moment, as my children have only just left and we are still providing financial support while they study. I enjoy having time for me and my husband and, whereas I don't doubt that I would love any grandchildren if they came, I certainly don't want to look after them on a daily basis - that's the parents' job. I also prefer older children rather than babies and toddlers, so you may well find that your bond deepens as they get older.

I adore my children and I think I would be exactly like you, I would want to help out and give them a break. I am sure your daughter values the support which you give to her and given the long hours which you work, I think you are going above and beyond the call of duty. It would be better to do less, which would probably mean you would appreciate the time with them, rather than to do more, to the extent where you resent it.

There have been a number of threads on here recently from exhausted grandparents who are finding it all too much, especially if still working. Please stop beating yourself up and dwelling on the past - you must have been a good mother for your daughter to want to involve you with her child so much. But you need to step back a bit, in my opinion, and consider your own needs rather than being a silent martyr.

Not all women have that maternal instinct, and many simply dislike children. There's nothing wrong with that at all. No need to feel any guilt.