January 22, 2025
1 month ago
The Vanishing Art of Traditional Grandparenting
Marko
I'm sitting here, staring at my phone, looking at the pictures I sent my mom of her grandson. No response, again. Just the blue checkmark showing she's seen them. Meanwhile, she's busy at her fitness class or meeting friends for coffee. Don't get me wrong – I'm happy she's living her best life, but something feels off.
Remember those stories about grandmas who would always have fresh cookies waiting? Who would spend hours playing with their grandkids and sharing wisdom through stories? Yeah, that's not really a thing anymore, at least not in my world.
My mom lives literally around the corner. You'd think that would mean frequent visits, Sunday family dinners, and spontaneous babysitting offers. Instead, we get carefully scheduled visits (when they happen at all) and a strange dance of social media interactions where she'll share deep, emotional quotes but won't respond to actual messages.
The thing is, I'm starting to realize this isn't just my mom. This is a generational shift. Today's grandparents are different. They're hitting the gym, traveling the world, taking classes, and living lives that often seem to leave little room for traditional grandparenting. They're more focused on their personal growth and enjoyment than on being the always-available family anchor their parents were.
Sometimes I wonder if this is progress or loss. Sure, it's great that today's grandparents are more independent and active. But what about the kids? What about those precious bonds that used to form over impromptu visits and shared moments?
My three-year-old loves his grandmother, lights up when he sees her. But these moments are becoming rare gems rather than daily treasures. It's like we're watching the slow fade of an art form – the art of traditional grandparenting – replaced by a new, more distant, more "modern" version.
Maybe I'm just being nostalgic for something I never actually had. Maybe this is just how things are now. But sitting here, watching another message go unanswered while seeing her active on social media, I can't help but feel we're losing something precious.
#ModernGrandparents #ParentingChallenges #FamilyDynamics #DadLife #ModernFamily
Remember those stories about grandmas who would always have fresh cookies waiting? Who would spend hours playing with their grandkids and sharing wisdom through stories? Yeah, that's not really a thing anymore, at least not in my world.
My mom lives literally around the corner. You'd think that would mean frequent visits, Sunday family dinners, and spontaneous babysitting offers. Instead, we get carefully scheduled visits (when they happen at all) and a strange dance of social media interactions where she'll share deep, emotional quotes but won't respond to actual messages.
The thing is, I'm starting to realize this isn't just my mom. This is a generational shift. Today's grandparents are different. They're hitting the gym, traveling the world, taking classes, and living lives that often seem to leave little room for traditional grandparenting. They're more focused on their personal growth and enjoyment than on being the always-available family anchor their parents were.
Sometimes I wonder if this is progress or loss. Sure, it's great that today's grandparents are more independent and active. But what about the kids? What about those precious bonds that used to form over impromptu visits and shared moments?
My three-year-old loves his grandmother, lights up when he sees her. But these moments are becoming rare gems rather than daily treasures. It's like we're watching the slow fade of an art form – the art of traditional grandparenting – replaced by a new, more distant, more "modern" version.
Maybe I'm just being nostalgic for something I never actually had. Maybe this is just how things are now. But sitting here, watching another message go unanswered while seeing her active on social media, I can't help but feel we're losing something precious.
#ModernGrandparents #ParentingChallenges #FamilyDynamics #DadLife #ModernFamily