Rethinking Grandparenthood: fairness, belonging, and practical steps

The useful part

Christian Today We need to rethink what it means to be a grandparent Kim Samuel 8 September, 2026 12:06 BST (Photo: High housing costs, punishing childcare bills and demanding jobs are leaning hard on parents. At the same time, more people are having fewer children, having them later, or not having them at all.

How it works

• I have also come to see how unevenly that joy, and that responsibility, is shared.
• A 2023 SunLife survey of more than 2,000 grandparents found that 52% provide free childcare during the working week, with those who help giving an average of 22 hours a week.
• ONS figures show 'good' outlook for married couples The Coalition for Marriage (CFM) has welcomed new figures suggesting that married couples are increasingly staying together.
• Christians condemn sexual violence following UN report on Russia-Ukraine conflict Most cases of sexual violence documented were against male prisoners of war.
• "Children's children are a crown to the aged," the Book of Proverbs tells us.

What to take from it

Some are managing their own health problems or financial worries. The joy of seeing life carry on beyond you, and of being seen by a generation that will inherit the world after you are gone. It's the intangible pleasure of seeing the world begin again through a child's eyes.

Example or evidence

• The public debate often talks about grandparents as if they are all comfortably retired, asset-rich and endlessly available.
• Some simply do not have the physical or emotional capacity to become a second childcare system.
• We should be able to celebrate grandparents who help, without making those who cannot feel guilty.
• There is another side to this story we talk about even less: older people who would love to be valued in that way, but have no obvious route in.

Details worth keeping

We need to rethink what it means to be a grandparent. Getty/iStock) Some grandparents are doing everything. Other older people would give anything to be needed.

Related coverage

• Psychologytoday: Grandparenting is filled with joy—but also unexpected emotional challenges. Learning to embrace both can strengthen relationships across three generations.
• Businessinsider: I know the time I spend with my grandchildren can leave a. Sometimes I worry what that might be.
• Tvtonight: This week, What does grandparenting look like today?
• Crosswalk: Grandparents often enjoy a unique position, offering a relaxed and attentive environment that makes them ideal for fostering deep spiritual conversations with grandchildren.