All families are different but all of them have one thing in common-love. Let’s take a look at everything connected to grandparents and blended families, and how to navigate these changes in your life.
Contents
In blended families, grandparents and step-grandparents play a significant role. During a divorce, separation, or remarriage, grandparents are like children and have no voice. That doesn’t stop them from being an essential part of the solution.
By understanding their grandchildren’s problematic behavior, grandparents and step-grandparents may help them realize the choices their parents have made for them. They can also help parents understand how difficult it is for them to see things from the viewpoint of their grandkids.
Go through this advice to ensure that you make the best choices for yourself and your family following your death.
Blended families and evolving family ties
Relationships with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins can shift following separation and divorce. For example, you may not continue to contact your previous partner’s family.
And if you do have contact, it’s normal for it to lessen over the years progressively. You’ll get some new in-laws, and your kid will undoubtedly meet a new extended family and step-grandparents.
Children usually benefit from interaction with blended relatives, as long as the ties are pleasant. And grandparents may play crucial roles in assisting youngsters through their parents’ separation of partnership.
You might like to read: List Of Boundaries For Grandparents
Maintaining Blended Family Connections
Most families find it easier when each parent maintains touch with their blended relatives. This implies that when children remain with each parent, they see their blended family. Some families gather together for significant birthdays, graduations, and weddings. If both families can collaborate, these events usually go smoothly.
Sometimes circumstances are more challenging. If your previous spouse has died, doesn’t live nearby, is estranged from family, or doesn’t have much contact with your kid, interaction with your child’s other grandparents and relatives could rely on you.
You may want to consider whether your former partner’s parents and relatives are important to your kid and whether you wish to visit them. If they feel pleased after seeing them, and if your ex-spouse is OK with you being in touch with them, it’s generally a positive thing.
You might like to read: My Child Is Using My Grandchildren for Emotional Blackmail – What to Do?
Finding a Place in your Child’s Blended Family
When you change partners, your children will undoubtedly get new step-grandparents. Some step-grandparents are keener to be engaged than others. But if everyone is open to it, children may form friendly, supportive, and occasionally deep connections with step-grandparents over time.
How close this bond gets might depend on:
- Your child’s age when they meet step-grandparents – young toddlers may grow closer more quickly
- Step-grandparents interest in and ability to connect to your kid
- The amount of time your kid spends with step-grandparents
- How receptive you and your kid are to getting to meet step-grandparents.
You may encourage your kid to form ties with step-grandparents and other extended family members by accepting invites from step-relatives when you can. You may consider scheduling get-togethers with the new blended family if you feel comfortable.
Tips for Step-Grandparents in Blended Households
You may help create a healthy connection with your step-grandchildren and make them feel comfortable in their new family.
Increase engagement, make time for them
You should be polite to them and show an interest in learning about them, for example, by making time to converse with them at family gatherings. Additionally, if desired, you should participate with the step-parenting grandchildren on a frequent basis.
Understand their problems
Only fifty years ago, divorce rates were much lower, and the term “blended family” had not yet been coined. However, the number of blended families — children who share one or no parents – is increasing at the moment. My family has also been affected by the numbers. As a result, we’ve had to develop a knowledge of the needs of our step-specific grandkids.
- Typically, mixed households impose barriers on their children. Additionally to the difficulties associated with separation and divorce, children may face joint custody and separation from their home, family, and friends while being introduced to new ones.
- Regardless of whether they love the changes or are emotionally prepared, children must adjust to them. It may be upsetting to you as well, but consider what is going on in your step grandchildren’s mind and emotions.
- Additionally, family leadership concerns may exist. When parents are required to coordinate their activities and interact with their children, conflict is likely to occur. Educating and disciplining children always creates new issues. “I’m not responsible for you; you’re not my father,” is a common refrain in a mixed family setting.
The better you understand your step-new grandchildren’s reality, the more empathetic and helpful you can be in assisting them.
You might like to read: Can Grandparents Get Paid for Childcare?
Your feelings matter too – get in touch with them
Recognize that you too may need time to adapt to new family circumstances and sentiments. For instance, you may feel uncomfortable with your child’s behavior that results in divorce and remarriage. You could even feel a bit disappointed that they married a parent.
Be truthful to yourself. Regardless of how offended or unhappy you are, clinging to such thoughts jeopardizes your influence as a step-grandparent significantly. Communicate your views to someone you can trust to be honest with you.
Treat your step grandkids equal to your own
It’s logical that you’d want to treat step-grandchildren differently or unequally. However, whatever you do for your children’s children should be done for their stepchildren as well. This includes gifts, travel, and any other investment — there are no exceptions or favoritism. They are all equal in the eyes of God. They should be included in yours as well.
Once you’ve regained control of your emotions, you’ll be more prepared to share your life with your step-grandchildren. Grandparent ties have an amazing ability to provide a “grand” type of love to step-grandchildren, even across long distances.
Find your own unique place with the children
If your grandkids refer to you as Umpa or Mugga, your step-grandchildren may also refer to you in a unique way. Allow your step-grandchildren to name you as well.
Take everything in your stride
Grandparents are in a unique position to look back and assess each step’s requirements. Gaining a better understanding of a child’s unique personality can enable you to choose the best technique for developing a bond.
While step-grandbabies are very easy to connect with, older children typically struggle to adapt to drastic changes in their life. As a consequence, they may not be actively seeking a connection with you at the moment.
Prepare to take things slowly. Allow them the time and space necessary to react to your readiness to love them on their terms and in their own timeframe, not yours. Never abandon a little remote kid.
Extend your affection and care without hesitation
Extend your feelings. It may be difficult, but if your goal is to make a genuine connection, you’ll see the value and be willing to wait. Keep an eye out for their signal that says, “Let’s try to get to know each other better.” Then you know they’re ready to let down their guard and let you inside their world.
Meanwhile, pay attention and spend time with your step-grandchildren. Recognize their interests and life events that are important to them. Accept them and look for ways to boost their self-esteem.
Tell them every opportunity you have that they are essential to you. Throughout the years, our memories with our step-grandchildren have made us smile. May the presents you give your step-grandchildren bring you many blessings.
You might like to read: Narcissistic Daughter Withholding Grandchildren – What to Do?
Do not feel pressured
At starting you may feel pressured. But you should make sure that you give equal attention to all of them. They are all your grandchildren. If you intend to send just one of them a Christmas card, you must send one to all of them. We understand that it may be out of your pricing range; thus, you do not feel pressured to participate.
If you are uncertain, talk to them
If you have any questions about how things are presently done in our family, please ask. We make a concerted effort to create a harmonious mixed family. Some conventions develop, and some formerly considered standard objects may become obsolete.
You need to make an effort
Love is a powerful energy, and if you make your grandchildren feel cherished, you will get it in spades. Make an effort, since it means a great deal to us. Because you are significant, we want you to be involved in our children’s lives.
You might like to read: Can a Grandparent Adopt a Grandchild?
Nothing is Better than Grandparents!
Being a grandparent is the best feeling ever. But, none of us understands precisely how to navigate the world of a blended family. Each day, each holiday, each experience leaves us with a little more information and understanding, but we’re not flawless.
If nothing else, the thing we can get right is the love for these youngsters who want to be part of your life. Show them a bit of love and even the most hardened of people will respond – after all, they may not like what’s happening around them, but they are still innocent children. Start following the tips that we have shared, and within no time, you can see the results.
We hope you like the article, do share it with your loved ones, and do not forget to show love in the comment section and let us know if we can help you in any way. If you have any queries or questions, please drop us a mail or a ping in the comment box and we will get back to your right away.
