At what age did you become a grandparent?

Hi Cassandra,
As you may have seen on another thread lots of grandparents have DGCs on the other side if the world and they see them infrequently. We all have different situations.
I'm sure you get to see your little 4 y.o as often as you can and well done to your DD for successful IVF. Two of mine were conceived that way, with DD aged 40 +. I never thought I'd be a granny. It's just lovely to have them isn't it. Don't envy your friends - some of them may provide childcare and that can be exhausting as many GPs say.
Of course you will be more than a photo! Do what you can to see him/her as often as possible and build up that special relationship. 4 is a lovely age, when they have lots to say, so do enjoy it all, with many more years of enjoyment to come.

Hi GrannyMac and Bellanonna - I am in my late 60's and have only one GC aged 4 who lives at a distance and close to the other grandparents. GC arrived as a result of successful IVF, for which we are all grateful, but there will not be any more, which is a shame.So many women now are putting off having families until really late, biologically speaking - and then when they discover there are problems, there is not enough time to sort things out.

DD is well into her thirties and not now in a relationship.It is hard not to feel envious sometimes of friends with several GCs they see regularly! Hopefully though, I will have built up some good memories in years to come with GC so that when I kick the bucket I will be more than a photograph in a frame!

A distant relative had a baby recently via IVF abroad at the age of 50. This child, unsurprisingly, has no grandparents at all....

I was 52 when first was born- she was followed 2 years later by 2 more girls who were born 5 days apart! I ran from one daughter to the other for weeks! Two years later grandson number 1 appeared. We thought that was it but 7 years later our younger daughter had surprise twins - a bonus for us all. In the gap I was diagnosed with Parkinson's so I am so lucky that we had retired just before the twins arrived as that means we can help out together, which we still do regularly. No time to take much notice of the Parkinson's now! I'm 66 but feel as young inside as I did when our first granddaughter was born nearly 14 years ago.

Some close friends who are our age have a great grandchild. At 70 I'm still waiting for my first grandchild. We have 3 children, only one married, but at least little ones do now appear on the forward planning spreadsheet!

I was 56 when beloved GS1 arrived on Christmas Eve with no daddy! Son of God he isn't but so precious to us. He is now almost 10. He has since been followed by 5 more GCs in steps and stairs: 8, 6, 5, 3 and 1. There are 3 boys and 3 girls. Love them all so much and hope I live to see them all get to adulthood. Probably unlikely with the baby. Hoping for more. DS and DIL just lost 3rd IVF but they are hoping to try again. I so want them to be successful and achieve their heart's desire. They would be such good parents.

I had my first son when I was 25 and the second when I was 28. I was 63 though when first granddaughter came along and 66 when the second arrived. Wouldn't be without them for the world!

I was 57 and now 6 years later I have 3. My mum was 54 and her mum forty something are Grans getting older? or mothers?

I was 40 and my daughter was 20

1 was 55 when my DGS was born 3yrs ago. He is my one & only.

Thank you Bellanonna, that's encouraging, and I must stop worrying so much !

50 and my grandson is now 2.

I had my daughter when I was 19 She had her first at age 35.I never thought she would have children but I couldn't stay abroad too long and when she had twin girls at age 40 I was selling up and desperate to get back to England. I had been an infant teacher (4 to 7 years) so I was thrilled and 2016 summer I had them 3 days a week - my most fantastic summer. I have a beautiful photo book made of marvellous photos. I shall treasure it forever.

I was 42 when the first was born, 58 at the arrival of the most recent. There are four in between, and there's a possibility that younger DD might have another...They haven't made up their minds yet.

I was 46. People used to say to me at the time, "I bet you feel really old now you're a grandma" . How wrong they were. I felt ten years younger the moment I felt the pure miracle of holding my darling grandson for the very first time and that feeling has stayed with me.

She is now 21 years old, and we are very close. The S.S. said I was too old to take her at 60, now I'm nearly 80 and still not too old.

I was 57, and when I was just turned 60 I became legal guardian of my lovely granddaughter. She was taken into care by social services when she was 15 months old, and because her mother and my son were not married he was not allowed to have her, so I applied to have her.

63 - 18 months ago. Hoping for more,of course, but DGS's appearance a year past April has been so good, as my DH died just 6 weeks before, after many years with an early-onset dementia. DGS is such a little darling (of course!) It has given me a new lease of life!

Don't worry grannyMac. I was 71, have read copiously to all three, have seen one go to school and i know the two who are 4 will remember me. And hopefully they all will. We may not see them grow up but it's fun and rejuvenating having little ones at our age. Do enjoy your little grandson.

I was 49, my grandson is 10, granddaughter 3 and grandson 1. I have four children so I'm hoping for lots more!

We became grandparents in July, I'm 71 and can't get it out of my head that I won't live long enough to see DGS grow up, or even start school. I'm in reasonable health, not so DH, but it is preying on my mind that he won't remember us. I long to be able to read to him etc. [ sad]

Forgot to say I am now 53,DGD will be 10 this Friday.

My darling GD arrived 5 days after my 43rd birthday. My DD had got married 6 months earlier with no immediate plans for children,but found out she was expecting 2 days before returning from her honeymoon. To say I was surprised at being made a gran at such a relatively young age is an understatement. But I am glad now as my health has deteriorated over the last couple of years. It meant I was able to help my DD with DGD in the first few,trying, years.

I certainly will Flossie, I'm excited OH is like a bottle of pop

That's it though !

60 - never thought either DC were going to have any but then DS twins arrived followed a year later with DD having her first, and now 5 years later my 4th DGC . I think that's though !