Grandparents develop strong bonds with their grandchildren. Somehow, it appears that grandparents can become best friends to their children's children. This benefits both parties and can greatly enrich both grandparents and grandchildren when they can spend time together. A supply of purpose comes to grandparents when they feel needed by their grandchildren.
While having children tends to have an aging effect on parents, it apparently causes the opposite for grandparents, who are often glad to have people to care for once more.
A study examined 500 adults that were 70 years old, ultimately revealing that grandparents who babysit regularly had a 37% lower mortality risk than others equal in age without any kids to watch.
After age 60 or 70, studies show that grandfathers have a tendency to take the lead in the form of grandchild play. Grandfathers actually tend to get more involved in the lives of their grandchildren, becoming better friends overall. The Bible says in Proverbs 17:6 KJV that "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."
Grandmothers also build strong relationships with their grandchildren and a close relationship with their grandmother is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children. Sometimes, however, negative or strained relationships tend to affect many families because everyone wants to be the favorite grandparent.
Many times in our corporate trade-off, our children don't necessarily have that opportunity to be or see their grandchildren daily, monthly and sometimes not even annually. When I grew up my grandparents were available on a daily basis, especially on weekends.. I remember that when I went to college my grandmother was my "bestest" friend. I couldn't wait to tell her all about my boyfriend. I shared my letters with her, needless-to-say my husband is left-handed and his penmanship was nothing to be rejoicing over but she looked at it and said, "he is so smart he knows Shorthand.”
My other grandmother expired when I was 11 years old and I was the oldest grandchild on my mother's side of the family. I always felt loved and special. My grandfathers lived to be 84 and 96 years old when they both expired. Unfortunately, my grandmothers expired at ages 48 and 70 years old. I loved them dearly. Grandparents are very special for children's balance. They give love and receive love in a deeply enriching circle of familial love. Ideally, they pass on to the next generation the best of what they themselves have learned from life.