Gransnet forums

Grandparenting

Non-biological grandchildren

(44 Posts)
lolais Sat 29-Aug-20 19:12:07

Hello I am new to Gransnet and I would appreciate your opinion regarding my non-biological grandchildren. My daughter and her ex- partner have a nine year old and a six year old (my daughters partner conceived the children using a donor (they are two gay women) so the children are not biologically connected to me. Because they are not my daughters biological children she has over compensated by thoroughly indulging the children in an effort to try to make them bonded to her. As a result, my other daughter and son have a poor relationship with the children as do I. We have just had a disastrous holiday because of the tension, and my daughter’s need to put her children above all else. I must admit I do find it very difficult to be even fond of them let alone love them. I was wondering what other grandparents feel about having donor grandchildren that are not biologically related. I do have four other grandchildren that I love.

timetogo2016 Sun 30-Aug-20 10:25:48

Their choice Bathsheba.
They have other nannies they call nanny,this is a large family.
Example Dh has 12 children. i have two.
Second marriage.

Starblaze Sun 30-Aug-20 12:01:01

Virtue signaling is going around announcing you have good morals but not actually practicing what you preach.

Like posting about how wonderful a charity or cause is for attention but not actually donating or helping in any real way.

Basically OP said that we are all full of it lol

EllanVannin Sun 30-Aug-20 12:16:46

Children in a family are children no matter what. I'm nan to them all. Step-children, those outside the immediate family too. I'm still nan to my GS's ex-girlfriend who visits from Holland grin I've lost count.

It really shouldn't make any difference non-biological or not. Life is so much better and easier when you can accept the children for what they are. Treat them all the same. I was no different with my step-children than my biological ones. We were " one " as a family and 60 years on we're still all the same so it can and does work. Multiplied a bit since grin

timetogo2016 Sun 30-Aug-20 12:18:07

I think i will stop posting anything from now on.

sodapop Sun 30-Aug-20 12:31:23

Another poster who just wants to have her opinions validated and not interested in other view points.

greengreengrass Sun 30-Aug-20 12:32:37

This sounds like a difficult situation and I feel sad that some posters have felt as if they can't post anymore.

Personally I think I would feel as if I needed some time and space to adjust to a new situation like this.

I'm sorry too the holiday was strained. Sometimes we have very high expectations of high days and holidays and I'm not sure we do ourselves any favours with that, as especially at the moment holiday situations can be very strained especially with kids.

As an older parent, not a grandparent, I have often felt judged in my parenting, and I'm sure at times people have thought I was over compensating or over indulging too.

But sometimes I have wanted them to understand that they can't possibly see the exact nature of the relationship with my child, and that actually I don't do this, and what they are seeing is one tiny fraction of our reality.

I dont' know if that helps. I intend it to be helpful.

NotSpaghetti Sun 30-Aug-20 12:35:43

I think several of us were trying to be helpful greengrass....

greengreengrass Sun 30-Aug-20 12:36:04

Also it can be very tough as a parent of any sexuality or type, as in modern times it seems the whole world judges you, whatyever you do.

l
I should imagine with having two women as parents they have come in for their share of nasty, unsolicited flack from complete strangers anyway = sadly and judgements.

So in their place I would be very protective and even unfortuantely a bit defensive about my position.

But then protective as a quality for a parent is probably on balance more a good thing than a bad one.

greengreengrass Sun 30-Aug-20 12:36:59

Yes Ns I honestly thought you were anyway, just trying to spell out my intention it is difficult on a chat board as they are just words and you can't see the person or gestures etc.

kircubbin2000 Sun 30-Aug-20 13:41:01

A lot of you did sound very preachy.

annodomini Sun 30-Aug-20 14:06:12

My DS1 had a 9-year-old daughter by a previous girlfriend when he got married. My lovely DiL has been a wonderful step-mother to my DGD and her parents made no distinction between her and their 'biological' GC. Even now, with DS and DiL divorced and with other partners, and my DDG almost 29, the relationship still holds good and I am so grateful to my DDiL for being more of a mother than my DGD's 'biological' mother has ever been. I can't bear to think how she would have felt if she'd been rejected.

NotSpaghetti Sun 30-Aug-20 15:46:07

I wasn't criticising you, greengrass - sorry if you thought I was. I was just thinking that some of us were trying to offer solutions. And yes, you are right about feeling protective for sure. I know I would probably be pretty fierce!

Floradora9 Sun 30-Aug-20 15:47:53

Nothing to do with blood ties all to do with the parenting . We have granchildren not biologically close to us or their mum but sometimes I even see a look of their mother in them because they copy her expresions . Makes no difference where they came from they are still children in the family .

Feelingmyage55 Sun 30-Aug-20 16:25:20

May I come at this from a different angle? OP recognises that she feels differently about her daughter’s children. That is a starting point to solve the problem if she wants to do that. I presume that having posted here, it is implied that she would like to better the relationships. I am not clear but am guessing that perhaps the same sex relationship and the split have in some way contributed to the tensions. Also going on holiday together if you don’t see one another a lot can be challenging. The children have had to see their parents split up and may be feeling insecure and needy, not surprisingly and perhaps this is what OP views as overindulging. I think a starting point, given OP’s reservations about the girls is to behave as if she likes them whether she does or not. Children are sensitive and will be aware of granny’s feelings. Be nice to them until it becomes a habit, then try to be fond of them and hopefully love will come. If you want a good relationship with your daughter and to support her as a single parent, this is a must. Imagine if you were in the children’s shoes. If you treat the children well they will reciprocate; I imagine they want you to love them. You will set a great example to the rest of the family and your reward will be to be loved in return. Good luck.

Barmeyoldbat Sun 30-Aug-20 16:39:15

My son married a woman with two very young children, one under 6months and the other only 3. He went on to have three of his own children but I can honestly say they have always been treated the same by him and also us. In fact child no 2 (not his) use to invite herself to stay at weekends and we still have a very, very close bond. I don't think blood ties matter.

greengreengrass Sun 30-Aug-20 16:44:22

thanks not spag. I'm not offended at all. Just probably on the tired side and not reading carefully enough.

thansk for your consideration

Summerlove Sun 30-Aug-20 16:58:40

What a sad situation

Those poor children more than likely know they aren’t as well liked due to biology.

I want more background though to give proper advice. Sadly I know it’s not forthcoming

DiscoDancer1975 Mon 31-Aug-20 09:45:01

It’s lovely when something shouldn’t be ‘ thing’, but sometimes, it just is. I was adopted, and constantly told, it doesn’t matter, you’re ours now, and all this type of thing. I used to envy people who could just slip into any role. I couldn’t. If it wasn’t real, the it wasn’t real. I understand you OP.