Gransnet forums

Grandparenting

presents

(28 Posts)
east12 Sat 16-Apr-22 09:01:26

I have not seen my Grandson for 6 months, it is his birthday next week, should I send a present.

varian Sat 16-Apr-22 09:07:08

Of course you should. He's your grandson. Put a note in the card "looking forward to seeing you soon. Lots of love from Granny"

Sara1954 Sat 16-Apr-22 09:08:37

Why haven’t you seen him?

east12 Sat 16-Apr-22 09:12:58

DIL has moved away and is filing for a divorce. Son is currently in contact with a solicitor to get some sort of contact.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 16-Apr-22 09:13:19

Why do you feel the need to ask?

H1954 Sat 16-Apr-22 09:16:49

I hardly see my only grandson despite him living just st a few miles away but that wouldn't stop me treating him exactly the same as if I saw him almost every day.
I have been quite poorly recently and he has messaged me, enquiried via his Mum on my progress, occasionally phoned me too.
Naturally, all situations are different and we don't know why the OP hasn't seen her grandson for six months, we don't know his age or his circumstances either.
I'm with varian on this, put a special message in the card, be the adult and rise above it.

east12 Sat 16-Apr-22 09:17:46

My son fills unless he can see his little boy, we should not send anything, he has asked to see him for his birthday but I don't know if it will happen, as he would like to give the gifts personally .

Sara1954 Sat 16-Apr-22 09:21:23

Send a present and a card, don’t let him think you don’t care, or worse, you’ve forgotten about him.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 16-Apr-22 09:24:26

Never mind what your son says, send a present and a nicely worded card. I hope your son will do likewise whether he sees him or not. Effectively your son is seeking to punish the child for the mother’s actions. Not a good look.

MawtheMerrier Sat 16-Apr-22 09:27:39

He is your grandchild - why ever would you not send a present?

lixy Sat 16-Apr-22 09:31:43

Yes, send a small gift and a card - keep the channel of communication open when the opportunity arises, but be prepared for it to be a one-way conversation for a while.

Jaxjacky Sat 16-Apr-22 09:33:22

Of course, this isn’t about your son, DIL or even you, send a gift, with love.

Kate1949 Sat 16-Apr-22 09:39:52

Yes. It's not the child's fault.

Pepper59 Sat 16-Apr-22 09:47:30

If it was my grandchild, I would send a gift and a card. Same at Christmas and Easter. It will be much appreciated by the child. Too many children lose contact through divorce with family, none of it is the child's fault. The adults need to remember the child's welfare is the most important. The couple should keep their disputes for the solicitor.

Grannybags Sat 16-Apr-22 09:53:04

Definitely send present. Also try and stay friends with your dil

My son and dil are going through a divorce at the moment but I've always tried to stay neutral. I'm not seeing my son over Easter but my dil is bringing my 2 GDs over to see us tomorrow

Ilovecheese Sat 16-Apr-22 10:53:19

Germanshepherdsmum

Never mind what your son says, send a present and a nicely worded card. I hope your son will do likewise whether he sees him or not. Effectively your son is seeking to punish the child for the mother’s actions. Not a good look.

What Germansheperdsmum said.

MissAdventure Sat 16-Apr-22 10:57:00

Whether you or your son still see your grandson is neither here nor there.
Of course you need to acknowledge his birthday, as does his dad.

maddyone Sat 16-Apr-22 11:02:30

Three of my grandchildren live in New Zealand, thankfully only for two years, but we’ve sent loads of parcels over there to them and to their parents. We’ve also made bank transfers so their parents can buy things in NZ for them. Your little one is your grandson, of course you must send a present. Do you keep in touch in other ways? We speak to ours for about an hour every week. It’s important to keep in contact with them, especially since his parents are going through a divorce. You are stability, you’re always there.

VioletSky Sat 16-Apr-22 11:11:46

Ah this is a difficult time for you while they grow through this process.

You can be neutral in a this and send a present, while still being polite to mum.

Hopefully that will help.

I think your son should send a present too

Smileless2012 Sat 16-Apr-22 11:15:01

Agree with GSM.

GagaJo Sat 16-Apr-22 11:17:24

Your son is behaving very badly, if he is going to punish his son, for what the mother is doing.

It's his child and your grandchild. That poor little one. His dad and his granny not recognising his birthday?

MissAdventure Sat 16-Apr-22 11:20:05

This could be tagged onto the "where have all the dads gone?" thread.
Airbrushing people out, bit by bit.

Davida1968 Sat 16-Apr-22 11:25:32

Yes. Yes. Yes! I agree with other GNs posting here. Do send a card & gift. (And perhaps photograph both, in case these don't reach him? While it's to be hoped that it never comes to this, at some time in the future you might wish to reassure your DGS that you never stopped thinking about him....) I hope you can see him soon.

jaylucy Sat 16-Apr-22 11:32:39

Whatever the reason for the breakdown of AS marriage, don't take sides!
He is still and always will be your GC so if you have a contact address, no reason not to send something - be it an actual gift or a voucher.
The only reason that I wouldn't is if DiL has asked that you don't

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 16-Apr-22 12:22:12

Clearly, relationships between your son and his wife are very strained at the moment. Ask yourself, would sending a present make this (potentially) better or worse? Would not sending a present make this better or worse?
There seems unanimity on this- the little chap should open a gift from his father's family on his birthday. And I think the idea of taking a photo of you wrapping the parcel - perhaps with a lighthearted caption " here's Granny getting into a muddle with the string on your birthday present " is a good one.I hope that matters can be resolved amicably for you all.