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At what age did you become a grandparent?

(129 Posts)
Flossieturner Fri 07-Oct-16 15:38:54

My first GC was born when I was 45. The most recent when I was 67. I was just musing about other grans and grandads. I think I have been more involved in helping with the ones that have come along since I retired than the ones born while I was working. But I do not think the 22 years have made much difference to how I am as a granny. Anyone else feel the same?

Thingmajig Sat 08-Oct-16 10:29:42

I was 55 and had just taken early retirement a couple of months earlier. I had DD at 23 but she was 32 by the time DGD came along.
2 more due (DD and step DD) next spring.
Best thing ever! smile

nannypink1 Sat 08-Oct-16 10:31:26

55 she's now 8 and there will be no more ? but how we love that little girl. We r heavily involved in caring for her picking up from school school hols etc. She said the other day I'm a mad but fabulous nanny and my omlettes should be on Great British Omlette Bake Off!! ❤❤❤❤ her to bits x

teabagwoman Sat 08-Oct-16 10:31:47

This is my first post so forgive me if I don't do things right. I read this thread with interest because I was 68 when I became a gran. I look after my gd, aged 2, one day a week and do lots of babysitting. Love it and desperately want to do it but getting very tired.Does anyone have any hints/tips for coping or indeed managing the housework/gardening in order to make time for rest?

dragonfly46 Sat 08-Oct-16 10:35:10

I was 69 - they made me wait but it was worth it although I think I get a lot more tired now than when I was younger. Mind over matter though!

LottieSweetpea Sat 08-Oct-16 10:35:40

60 and I loved it!
Excited 2nd one due soon (62)

Craftycat Sat 08-Oct-16 10:42:56

I had my first baby at 22 & Mum had me at 20 so she was a young 42 when she became a GM. However I was 54 when first GC arrived-now have 6 & am 66. Sons took a while to settle down. I was desperate to have GC!!

Victoria08 Sat 08-Oct-16 10:43:08

I was 58 for the first one, but didn't have much hands on as they lived in London.

Third time around, I am 71 and daughter has one year old.
This time around it's very much hands on as she lives nearby.

Although he is a lovely baby, I find it completely knackering when I look after him while daughter works. My energy levels are not what they were, and I feel quite ill after he's gone home.

He certainly keeps me on my toes, but I do wonder how much longer I can keep on running around after him.

jenpax Sat 08-Oct-16 10:46:35

Was 45 and he is now 6 since then my other two children have also had babies so I now have 4 tiny grand children. I have to confess that I wasn't happy to become a grandparent in my forties it made me feel ancient and in fact I find that I get treated differently when people hear I am a grandmother straightaway they start talking to me as if I had aged over night!!
I love my grandchildren very much, but I do wish the popular image of a grand parent didn't encompass the stereotype of the grey haired pensioner!
I also wish that I had more time to spend with the little ones, because I am 14 years off being allowed to retire! I have to work full time (I also don't have a husband to help financially) so can't help with daily child care as many of the others on these forums seem able to.

cazzyp Sat 08-Oct-16 10:50:47

38 when my first dgd was born now at 52 my partner and i have 20 beautful grandchildren between us and anouther dgs due this week were so happy and proud of all of them

widgeon3 Sat 08-Oct-16 10:54:39

First grandchild at 61, latest at 75. They live far away so see them rarely . Love their visits but am knocked out and need several days recovery.
Husband nearly 10 years older and mostly disappears when they come as he now finds it too disturbing and noisy.
He pointed out to me tha we were the age of great grandprents and really can't be expected to be too hands on

BarbaraAbbs Sat 08-Oct-16 10:55:19

60 and then 8 in the next ten years. Eldest GD now 18. The last two have not had so much hands on - have had hip and knee replacements. As I am on my own I get very tired. Couples I know who still do a lot of childminding take it in turns to have 'time off'.

diamondwhite Sat 08-Oct-16 10:57:59

I was 40 when my first grandchild was born.

pollyperkins Sat 08-Oct-16 11:00:47

Marionk - what a wonderful result! You must have all been thrilled.

teabagwoman Sat 08-Oct-16 11:03:02

This is my first post so forgive me if I don't do things the right way. I became a gma at 68. She's now a very active two year old and I look after her one day a week and do a lot of babysitting. Love it and desperate to continue but I get very tired. Anyone have any hints or tips on how to cope or indeed how to manage housework and gardening to make time for rest? I volunteer at my local hospice and have various other interests that I don't want to give up

craftygran Sat 08-Oct-16 11:05:26

I was 38 when my first one was born and 22 years later I have 26 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, I have 5 children myself.

Jan51 Sat 08-Oct-16 11:08:15

I was 55 when GS1 was born. As DD2 was living with us at the time and he was born on our sofa I was very involved from the start even though I was working at the time.. DG2 was born 1 year later to DD1 but she was living in Cornwall so I was less involved. DD2 is due to give birth to a girl in January when I will be 65. She now lives in Cornwall as well so we are trying to persuade DH to move from London to Cornwall, otherwise Great Western Railway will be making plenty of money from me.

Tudorrose Sat 08-Oct-16 11:13:03

I was 62 when my gd was born, she is now 12 & her brother is 10, they are lovely children ( everyone says so not just doting Nanna !) They are my son's children & live only 10 mins away by car which is lovely. My son & Dil are good caring parents & I am proud of them. My d& sil live 2 hours away so we don't see them so often. They have a bright, funny, 8 year old boy who is a joy to be with. They had to wait 5 years for him & thought they would be childless but he came along as a lovely surprise. He isn't spoiled but inevitably gets a lot of attention as an only child. They are 3 beautiful children & a credit to their loving parents

diamondwhite Sat 08-Oct-16 11:16:19

teabagwoman, it sounds like you are very busy. Looking after a two-year old is very demanding. Could you buy in some help for your house and garden or maybe arrange your garden so that there is not so much to do in it? How about getting up an hour earlier to get your housework out of the way on the days you don't have your granddaughter? Batch cooking and then freezing is a good way of not cooking every day, or could you have simpler meals? On the day you are looking after your granddaughter, could you go out as much as possible, maybe doing a small supermarket shop or running other errands for part of the day and then more child oriented things later in the day?

Chocolatechomp Sat 08-Oct-16 11:20:47

59 for DGS now 7, 63 for DGD now 4, 66 for DGD now 5 months all my DS aged 40.
Hoping for rainbow baby for DD age 37 who is having some problems ?

Sheilasue Sat 08-Oct-16 11:40:24

I was 55 when my gd was born.

maryeve Sat 08-Oct-16 11:51:28

I was 39 when my first grandson was born,I had 4 children now I have 13 grandchildren youngest is 2 and 4 great grandchildren.

goose1964 Sat 08-Oct-16 11:57:29

I was 48 he's now 4, my second was a year later & I now have another 2 on the way

allule Sat 08-Oct-16 12:11:05

We reached sixty with no grandchildren, and by seventy had nine!
It was lovely having so many, and mostly living near, but now they are all becoming teenagers, and in some ways I wish it had all been spread out over a longer time.

jane999 Sat 08-Oct-16 12:11:49

Gran at 40, Great gran at 60. Eldest grandsons are 26, one 23 and youngest 19 and 12 year old Grand daughter. Did the school run and school holidays for quite a few years.

Maggiebee46 Sat 08-Oct-16 12:18:50

I was 43 when the first GC was born and 54 when the 12th was born. I'm 70 and still working but do find I don't have as much energy for the 3 GGC who are 5, 3 and 22 months as I had with their parents.