What happens in your brain when you have Grandchildren?

What happens in your brain when you have Grandchildren?

January 8, 2020

My mother once said to me in all seriousness, “I feel bad for people whose grandchildren aren’t as wonderful as mine.”  I tried to persuade her that the other grandparents felt that way too.  She would not be swayed.  Her grandchildren were just more wonderful than others.  At that time I could objectively see her logic was flawed.  But now I have grandchildren.

My grandchildren two little girls about 2 and a half and a 1 year old boy. There is one on the way.   They are the best.  I can hardly wait until the next time I get to see them. 

I was a reasonable parent.  Some might have called me strict at times.  The part of me that said no seems to be gone.  "Of course she can eat that messy chocolate cookie on the carpet.  I can clean it up later.  This old couch has good springs, a little jumping won’t hurt it.  Oh, you can give them healthy food at home tomorrow."  I think like this and other ridiculous things I did not think as a parent.

My children were/are smart.  I loved watching them learn.  My grandchildren are amazing.  The speed they learn at is unbelievable.  And, my goodness, they are so cute.  The little guy has his sneaky smile when he is doing something he knows he shouldn’t.  Isn’t that cute?  (I vaguely remember such a smile in my own child making me crazy.)  Every picture I see is more beautiful than the last.

There must be a switch in the brain.  When you see your grandchild for the first time the switch changes position.  It moves from the reasonable parent setting to the dotting grandparent setting.  I had seen this in my friends.  Endless pictures of grandchildren I didn’t know.  Stories of how great they are. I would never have believed I had a grandparent setting but I do.  I have turned to mush.

I agree with my mother, “I feel bad for people whose grandchildren aren’t as wonderful as mine.”