I Missed My Granddaughter’s Childbirth and Now My Daughter Is Upset

No one’s born knowing how to be a parent; the same goes for grandparents. They’re always learning how to help their family and enjoy some quality time with their grandchildren. But above all, they are also individuals who want to enjoy life and experience new things. People often forget that, and it can cause conflicts. That’s what happened in these stories. The grandparents of a newborn baby decided to take a vacation, and their days off ended up overlapping with the mom’s labor.

It is probably difficult to anticipate such a situation, but grandparents and parents can learn some lessons from this story.

• Just as parents must learn to be parents, grandparents must also adapt to their new role. The arrival of a grandchild can strengthen the relationship between parents and children, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is available to help family members around the clock. As the family grows, roles change, which can be great. Still, everyone needs a process of adaptation. You must be patient and try to redistribute responsibilities evenly.
• We all deserve a break. A parent never stops being a parent; however, as children grow up and become independent, they also have the right to indulge themselves, travel, and have new experiences without feeling that everything may hang in the balance if they are not there 24/7. Never take people’s help for granted, regardless of who they are. Even the people who are truly willing to help may not be able to be there for you if circumstances don’t allow it. Look for other alternatives.

• Family stereotypes are constantly changing. Just as today’s mothers are not the same as 20 years ago, neither are grandparents. It’s increasingly common for grandparents to develop activities unrelated to their family. They will accompany and support all family members in the best way possible, but they also don’t want to lose the chance of enjoying their freedom. They want to enjoy a new learning stage. And that should also be allowed to be done freely.
• Companionship rejuvenates. Just as new parents need grandparents, new grandparents also need their family for their own health. For grandparents, feeling accompanied, enjoying their grandchildren and sharing moments is important to feel useful, vital, raise their self-esteem and break routines.

• Mothers need a lot of support during labor. Many mothers may feel uneasy about labor, especially first-time mothers or women having experienced issues in the past. So whatever your involvement is, tro to offer your support and encouragement, regardless of your situation.
• Companionship can benefit pregnancy management. Studies suggest that the support of pregnant women’s partners and family members acts directly or indirectly as a buffer against negative thoughts and insecurities. So it is important not to dismiss a pregnant woman’s fears and discomfort. Pay attention to what she says and make her feel accompanied and heard.
• Be patient. As emotions and schedules adapt to a new reality for new parents, many beliefs about caring for a baby can come into conflict. No one owns the truth, there is advice that may be outdated or unnecessary, as well as small parenting mistakes we can all make. No one gets a diploma to be a parent, you learn by doing.