Empty nest grandparents

It is a dreadful feeling. Are you able to collect him from school one day a week?

Yes absolutely and we intend to...I think it just feels like the end of an era. We have two other grandchildren but they live quite a long way from us so although we love them, we don't have the same connection as our little one we have been looking after. I'm trying to be positive but am wondering how long it will be before he's not so interested in us anymore. He has an amazing relationship with his grandad so I'm hoping it will carry on.

In the same situation we carried on with helping on the same day but that help involved picking them up from school and giving them their tea, which was lovely - and then we were back to the original regime in the school holidays, so we still saw lots of them and built on the early relationship we had established.

All our GCs live so far away we were never involved in looking after them. Until they were a bit older we only saw them for a week or so at a time or through Zoom sessions. They are grown now but they still remember times they stayed with us and things we did.

I don't think your GCs will lose interest so long as you keep communicating with them. Once they are older they will be able to have the odd sleep over - we used to 'camp' in the back garden in a tent and they loved it. We let Mum and Dad camp with us once and the children had a lot of fun explaining where they were to sleep and what we would have to eat.

I understand how you feel. I looked after two of my grandchildren for 11 years. Eventually they became old enough to look after themselves and I was redundant.

I was lost for a while as 3 days of my week I was at their home getting them up and ready for school then picking them up later and making their evening meal.

I have a close relationship with both and attended my granddaughter's graduation recently.

This time with your grandson is special. It has moved on to new phase but he is still little and you can have many more years caring for him.

These messages have been lovely to read and brought a tear to my eye.
I never realised what a beautiful relationship one could have with grandchildren. Ours have brought us so much pleasure and happiness and we will hold these memories close to our hearts.
Our little ones are 3, 4 and 6. They are still babies so we will be enjoying every minute as long as we can. Our little grandson is only 4 but starts school in September. He seems so young. Thank you for your replies xx

He will still love you, always, those first years, so formative.
Keep up with FaceTime and chat...you just never can tell.

We did the same, looked after our granddaughter one day a week until she started school. I was bereft when we didn't have her anymore, I was so worried in case she felt that I didn't want her anymore. She starts year 2 in September and our relationship is as strong as ever. We do some, not loads, of school pickups and care during holidays and have family meals a couple of times a month. It works perfectly and it's not exhausting.

My youngest GC is going to school soon and we too have looked after him for a day a week since he began nursery. I can’t say I feel bereft, I think that’s a term particular to those who have truly lost children/grandchildren.

I am already dealing with recent widowhood, so my world had changed drastically anyway this year. This will simply be a change of routine and something new will take its place.