Relationships with Grandparents - Essay Example

Relationships with Grandparents Having a grandparent is like having two sets of parents, only that grandparent tolerates me more. Our relationship goes beyond the boundary of friendship and parental obligations, which strengthens my values and high regard to my family. One study suggests that grandparents “are thought to exert influence is in adolescent and young adult grandchildren’s identity development” (Wise, 2010, p. 57). I would have to agree with this statement since there are various things about me in which I can point out to be my grandparents’ influence, and there are also a lot of events from my adolescent years in which I was able to appreciate family ties because of them.

Furthermore, the generational gap between grandchildren and grandparents can be a tool in establishing a balanced relationship, while parents are busy working for the needs of the families. Grandparents can be very tolerating with our acts, especially if they live far from where our parents live. However, some of us failed to see their effort of bringing the essence of a complete family. As what Wise (2010) points out, the mediating roles of grandparents are evident when the child wants to visit the grandparents, accompanied by his mother or father.

This is especially important since children from divorced parents need more social support. They could be a potential emotional counselor since they have more experience than their grandchildren, and consequently teach them how to handle things in a mature way. The role of the grandparents in the family, and the social structure as a whole is crucial in a way that they are in between being caregivers for their grandchildren and at the same time, needing care for themselves. Reference Wise, R. (2010). Intergenerational relationship characteristics and grandchildren's perceptions of grandparent goal influence.

Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 8, 54-68.