Studies show that as many as 90% of adult grandchildren feel that their grandparents influenced their beliefs and values, while 72% of grandparents think being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life
The term 'grandparent' means the parents of a person's father or mother. Grandparents have always been important members of a family. The role of a parent is often very different from the role of a grandparent. Parents are the providers and disciplinarians of their children. Grandparents are often much freer to enjoy and have fun with their grandchildren.
A grandparent-grandchild relationship is usually much simpler than that of a parent and child. It is said that a grandparent is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.
Traditionally, the liturgical celebration of Saints Joachim and Anne, the maternal grandparents of Jesus, was done on 26 July. From this year onwards, Pope Francis announced that a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will be held on the fourth Sunday of July.
Recalling the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple– when the elderly couple Simeon and Anna encountered the child Jesus and recognized Him as the Messiah, the Pope said, “The Holy Spirit even today stirs up thoughts and words of wisdom in the elderly.” The voice of the elderly is precious because it “sings the praises of God and preserves the roots of the peoples.” The Pope granted the faithful the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence as a part of this commemoration by devoting time to physical/virtually visit the elderly who are sick, abandoned, and disabled. The theme coined for the celebration is “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20), which is a way of expressing the closeness of the Lord and the Church to every elderly, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research studies and supporting statistics highlight the importance of a positive parent-child relationship in the social and emotional development of children. However, what isn’t always recognized is the positive impact that a close relationship between a grandparent and grandchild can have on the happiness and wellbeing of the entire family. Having grandparents around is good for families, moreover a healthy connection between a grandchild and his/her grandparent is beneficial to both sides of the relationship. Studies show that as many as 90% of adult grandchildren feel that their grandparents influenced their beliefs and values, while 72% of grandparents think being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life.
A research carried out at Boston College in 2014 found that an emotionally close relationship between grandparent and grandchild is associated with fewer symptoms of depression for both generations. For children, having grandparents around means having the perfect confidantes to play with and have fun. Grandparents are some of the best partners when it comes to using creativity and imagination to discover the wonders of life. Moreover, they are a valuable resource to their children, as they have so many stories and experiences from their own lives to share. The grandparents also offer a link to a child’s cultural heritage and family history. Children understand more of who they are and where they come from through their connection with their grandparents.
When both parents are working outside of the home, often the grandparents play a crucial role to take care of their grandchildren on a regular basis.
Many a time the grandparent act as either an occasional babysitter or a childcare provider that gives many parents a great sense of comfort knowing that they are leaving their children in capable and caring hands. Grandparents are the extra layer of support that can make a big difference in a child’s life, especially during tough times.
Research has shown that close grandparent-grandchild relationships during the teenage years are associated with fewer behavioural and emotional problems. When parents are busy in their daily chores, the grandparents offer an extra ear when kids need someone to talk to, because sometimes children just find it easier to confide, share their difficulties and problems, and express their feelings to their grandparents.
The study carried out at the University of Oxford shows that at times of family breakdown and separation, many grandparents played an important role in bringing stability to their grandchildren.
Grandparents play an important role in times of family adversities and are available to help the family buffer the difficulties. In many cases, the grandparents raising grandchildren in the absence of the biological parents are becoming increasingly common in Europe, the US and many other countries. While this care is often considered a better alternative to children being placed in non-relative foster care, grandfamilies (families comprising of grandparents and their grandchildren) often experience unique challenges with significant economic and social impacts.
The role of grandparents in family life is ever-changing. They play many roles from a mentor to a storyteller to a loving companion and child-care provider. Strong intergenerational connections can result, giving grandchildren a sense of security of belonging to the extended family. The degree of the involvement of grandparents varies from one household to the next, often depending on a variety of circumstances such as proximity to grandchildren, relationship to parents, type of family structure, the health of grandparents and interest. Let us think about all these aspects, before deciding to “dump” them in the old-age homes. Let us be thankful to them for their valuable support to the family.
(The author is a teacher at Raghuvir & Premavati Salkar Higher Secondary School, Chorao)
