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These days, nuclear families are becoming more and more popular. As a result, many kids don’t get to spend as much time with their grandparents as they used to. In fact, it’s become quite common for children to only visit their grandparents once or twice a year since they don’t live together. But does it impact the overall personalities of kids altogether? We know how essential the role of grandparents can be in a kid’s life, yet there is always a downside to everything.
So, in this article, we’ll be discussing some of the benefits grandparents add to their grandchildren and also some potential drawbacks, keeping in mind the current Genz generation.
Benefits Of Living With Grandparents
Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. From offering comfort during times of stress or uncertainty to sharing wisdom from years of personal experience, grandparents are truly a blessing. Here is a list of the most prominent benefits that grandparents bring, not only to their grandchildren but the whole family when they live together:
- They Are The Best Babysitters
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Grandparents are some of the best babysitters and companions for kids. They often have more free time than their parents do which makes it easier for them to spend quality one-on-one time with their grandchildren. They also provide a unique mix of wisdom, patience, love, and understanding that no other person can give.
- They Are The Best Motivators
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Grandparents can provide unconditional love that helps their grandkids build self-esteem and confidence as they grow up. They are there to listen to their grandkids, without any hurry, and give them all the necessary motivation to try something new or something they failed at, without pressuring them.
- They Provide The Best Guidance
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Grandparents have seen it all and they’ve lived through different eras and generations which gives them the perfect perspective for guiding any situation imaginable. They also bring lightheartedness into conversations regarding serious topics such as relationships or career decisions, helping to reduce stress levels while still imparting sound knowledge to younger generations. This allows grandchildren not only to learn from past mistakes but also gain an understanding of how certain choices made today could affect future outcomes tomorrow.
- They Are The Pillars For Emotional Stability
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Grandparents offer stability like no one else, especially during periods when parents may not always be available due to physical distance. They know how important it is for children to be surrounded by people who care about them deeply. This is why they go out of their way to make sure that kids feel secure and loved at all times. They can give advice based on years of experience which helps younger generations navigate difficult situations more easily without feeling overwhelmed or alone in the process.
Drawbacks Of Living With Grandparents
Just like every coin has two sides, similarly, living with grandparents can also have some potential drawbacks. Here’s a list of disadvantages kids from this generation face when living with grandparents from beyond the millennial generation.
- Difference In Viewpoint
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There is often a difference in viewpoint between generations when it comes to modern trends and social issues. Kids growing up today are exposed to different aspects of life than their grandparent’s generation was. This means they may have difficulty connecting on certain topics or seeing eye-to-eye on various matters due to a huge age gap in understanding.
- Constant Lifestyle Controlling
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Elderly people often live a traditional lifestyle. So when grandparents and children live under one roof together, they can have a conflict over different lifestyles. Whether it’s what time they should go out or how late they can stay at night, these kinds of rules always frustrate the younger generation.
- Privacy Invasions
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It won’t be wrong to say that living with grandparents usually means less privacy as they’ll often want to know where you are going and who you’re hanging out with, making it a bit toxic for a generation that seeks space everywhere.
- More Dependence
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There is also an increased dependence on the grandparents instead of developing independence skills like budgeting, planning, cooking meals, or even staying alone. Something that would help prepare kids for adulthood when they eventually move out on their own.
- Loss Of Parental Authority
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Believe it or not but children living under two sets of authority figures may struggle to understand which rules to follow. As there will be multiple parenting styles, kids might get used to more conflicts between their parents and grandparents, which can lead them to neglect both of their decisions eventually and lose respect as well.
Grandkids living with their grandparents can be a wonderful thing for both generations. However, with the changing culture and parenting styles, more parents look to staying away from their parents which can in some way or another affect their kid’s personality development as well. Do let us know in the comments section about the learnings you or your kids got from their grandparents.
