By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Newborns ~~~
If your baby is lucky enough to have a grandmother or grandfather (or several!) in her life, the benefits she’ll enjoy from this unique relationship are many. All grandparents are different and each relationship will have its own special value, but here are some of the common traits of the grand relationship:
- Unconditional love
The love between grandparent and grandchild is often total and unconditional. Grandparents have a bond to your baby that encompasses their love for you and their love for your child love that conveys itself to your child with every hug, every word, and every smile.
- Fun without strings
Grandparents often bring playfulness to the relationship. They have had their turn raising children and often feel that they can relax and enjoy the moments without having to focus on the teaching, setting limits, and enforcing discipline that parenting entails. It’s a benefit for children to have this person with whom they can let their hair down and relax.
- Fun without the stress of time
Grandparents often move at a slower pace than parents do. If this is so in your family, your child can enjoy a special relaxed and lingering quality to the time she shares with her grandparents.
- A sense of history
Grandparents are a link to the history of a family stories about the background, rituals, and eccentricities that weave the rich tapestry of a family. Grandparents can instill a feeling of belonging and teach children about their roots.
- Respect for and understanding of the aging process
Children who have a close relationship with grandparents accept aging as natural. From the time the kids are young, they know their grandparents simply as people. This relationship helps them accept and appreciate the differences between generations.
Elizabeth Pantley is a mother of four, grandmother, and author of the bestselling book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Newborns plus 8 other books in the No-Cry Solution Series, which helps Moms and Dads through all key stages of parenting. Visit her at nocrysolution.com