How old were you when your first grandchild was born?

I was 68. It didn’t seem particularly old to me. I remember my father was 65 when my first son was born, and he thought he was too young to be a grandfather. He lived to 94, so he did see my children grow up. My grandchildren are ten and seven. I don’t really expect to see them grow up. I’m their grandmother, not their mother.

As a family, we have all married and had children relatively late, after higher education and so on. It’s normal to us.

What a silly comment - an acquaintance who will never become a friend I suppose.
I was 44 when my first grandchild arrived and 69 when the most recent arrival joined us. My older grandchildren are in their 20's, the younger group in primary/nursery school. They make me want to live for ever but I know that's not going to happen so I grab the moment with all of them.

Thank you everyone for your responses and good wishes. I honestly don't think the woman who made the comment to me meant to be hurtful or offensive but as I said in my opening post I was taken aback. I am so looking forward to meeting my little granddaughter and intend to be around for many years to come. My DD and DSIL have said that it will be 'one and done' so she is very precious.

What an unkind comment to make! I’m shocked! I was 53 when my first gc was born and 59 for the last but it wouldn’t have bothered me at if I had become a nanny in my 60’s.

I was 70 - and my daughter was 45. He is our little miracle baby .

I was 48 when our first GS was born. Then five more followed, fairly regularly spaced, until after a long gap, our youngest GS was born when I was 72.

Well, shock horror, I was 36. I had a higher education as did my daughters. Very young I know, but it has worked out well for all concerned. The grandaughter that was born when I was 36 was 36 herself yesterday. Seems strange.

I was 44 when my first GD was born. Then nearly 66 when twin GGC were born. They became teenagers in June.

I was 38 when the first GC was born and 70 when the last one was born a big gap between them. I have 9 GC.

My first GGC was born before the last GC, I have 3 GGC and one due anytime now.

66 and my first grandchild has just recently arrived ?

I was 47, my wife was 39, for our first GC and 67 for our first GGC, 7 years ago since when I have been presented with a further 4 GGC............... I hope that we can continue actively in all of their lives.

However it matters little what age you start on this new journey, it is still extra special.

I was 52, and I remember remarking to a co-worker that the other grandmother was only 41( my DIL's mum). She was shocked, since she had just become a mother herself at the age of 42!

58 - first grandchild

First grandchild at 60. And I still felt I was too young!

Our first grandchildren, twins, arrived when I was 60, almost 61, and my husband 61. Later my son adopted a little boy, and although I was 62 when he arrived, he was already 2 and a half years old, so I sort of became a grandparent at 59, but I didn’t know my grandson then. Our latest and last grandchild arrived when I was 64. We have been told that there will be no more grandchildren.

Juno56, don’t take any notice of your acquaintance, 63 is a great age to enjoy your new grandchild. None of us know whether we’ll see our grandchildren grow up, but as life expectancy has increased, so the possibility of seeing them grow up improves. But whatever, just enjoy your new grandchild when he/she arrives.

Congratulations !
What a daft thing for her to say.

I was 48 when DGS1 was born and 61 when his cousin came along. Maybe another to come, so I’ll be over 65.

I was 48 when my first GC was born. Next GC came (different son) when I was 63 and the last when I was 66

I was 47 when my first grandchild was born.I now have five altogether.When I was 70 I became a great grandma with another one born when I was 72
My son became a grandfather at 42, and one of my sisters was 39 when she became a grandma.

After thinking it would never happen I had two at 60, then another two at 62 and one at 64. The my oldest DS totally surprised me with one this year just before I was 72. I am fully hands on with three of them living with me part time.

46. And because nothing is ever simple in our family, my son was home on leave from the army and said very glibly, 'Are you doing anything tomorrow Mum?'
'No, not really, why?'
'Would you like to go see your grand-daughter?'

That was the very first inkling that the girl, now 25 and utterly precious, was in my world.

I had known about my son's long-time girlfriend, she often penned a few lines at the end of his letters to me but certainly not that she was 'with child'.

I was so overjoyed.

I said, 'Can I tell people?!' and spent the next 60 mins ringing everyone I knew and no doubt boring them with my jubilation and pride as I cried, 'I'm a Grandma! I'm a Grandma!'

Because her own mother didn't even know she was pregnant, my dgd's Mum came to ask me if I would look after baby for a month whilst she visited and broke the news gently.
So I had dgd as a newborn and regularly throughout her life as Mum tried to complete her university degree.

We have a wonderful relationship even though she now lives and works in London. We keep in touch via Facebook.

I was 58 when our eldest daughter had her first and our littlest was born 9 months ago when I was 69. I doubt we will have more than the current 7.

We also have 19 and 17 year old step grandsons but I wasnt around when they were born. They are much loved by us - so our total number of grandchildren is 9

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

65 here - just moved nearer our daughter and will be a very hand-on granny - looking after the baby two days a week when my daughter goes back to work. I know people who are 'old' at 50 - it depends on your attitude and how well you look after yourself. Being able to be with grandchildren is a huge gift - I will never be taking it for granted.

67 - and I do sometimes wish I'd been 10 years younger, with a bit more energy. But many of dd's friends have also had babies in late 30s/early 40s so hardly unusual now.
Gdcs now 3 and 4 - with no. 3 due soon after Christmas, so that will make early January a lot less dreary than usual!

I had two grandmothers until after I was married, and a great-grandfather until I was about 14.

My mother survived until shortly after our first Gdc was born, but alas she was 97 and in late stage dementia, so unable to understand or enjoy her.