Facts About Grandparents, I remember …
Times have changed, but they will never be forgotten. With nostalgia for the good old days when my family lived close to one another, I jotted down an important childhood memory of my grandparents. Why was it important to me? Because it showed and taught me how a family should interact.
Childhood Memories of Family
Role of a Modern Grandmother
As a modern grandmother, I fear I won’t be able to follow in the footsteps of my own grandmother, the true Queen Bee. The role of family has shifted, and my grandchildren live long distances away. I know that many of you are in the same boat. Our family floats here and there adrift, without an anchor. I dare say that many lives, young and old, would turn out differently with the opportunity for continuous close family bonding.
My Love-Hate Relationship with the Wright Brothers
Since becoming a grandmother, I have a love-hate relationship with the inventors of the airplane, Wilbur and Orville Wright. Their invention opened the window of the world and nourished my wanderlust as a worldly woman, but closed the most important window—family life. In past generations, the inability to travel easily ensured kids and grandkids stayed close to home.
It is painful not to be able to be the Queen Bee Grandmother, the on-site matriarch of my family. I would give anything (almost) to be able to run over to their houses and take my grandchildren for a spontaneous burger and fries or shopping for a pair of Levi’s…all on the spur of the moment. A grandmother has so much to share with her grands! And grandchildren have so much to give back.
Facts About Grandparents: Sharing Your Story
Lifestyle Facts About Grandparents
2. We are younger than before. 60% of us are baby boomer grandparents! Or, as I like to say, “bloomers” not boomers.
3. Grandparents are active. 43% exercise and play sports. 28% volunteer on a regular basis.
4. A lot of grandparents are computer literate. 75% of us are online. 70% of us use search engines to find information. 63% shop online and 30% instant message! Interested in getting more tech savvy? Read this story.
5. Grandparents work! 40% have full-time or part-time jobs, and 23% of us have our own businesses.
6. WE ARE MODERN and yet… 86% of us bake cookies for our family! Because rather than being “old-fashioned,” we believe in the value of passing on traditions.
7. Many of us are in relationships and sexually active. 33% of us have been married more than once. 38% of us have sex at least twice a week.
8. We’re not necessarily sitting on a porch somewhere in a rocking chair! Some of us get inked. Namely, 10% of grandparents surveyed have a tattoo. 17% have attended a rally, and 15% have demonstrated. 7% have used recreational drugs and 2% skydive.
Financial Facts About Grandparents
9. We have money! We control 75% of the wealth in America. Our average net worth is over $250,000. We spend $2 trillion every year on consumer goods and services. 55% of us have no mortgage.
10. We are generous. We make 45% of the nation’s cash contributions to nonprofits. Kudos!
11. Many grandparents support their adult children and grandchildren financially. We spend $52 billion every year on our grandchildren! We spend $32 billion on education. 62% of us provided financial support to our adult children and grandchildren in the last year. 70% on cash for day-to-day expenses, 40% on housing (mortgage or rent), 23% on daycare, and 21% on education.
12. We enjoy life and have fun! We spend 100 billion on entertainment and 77 billion each year on travel.
The Most Important Fact About Grandparents
13. WE LOVE TO SPEND TIME WITH OUR GRANDCHILDREN
- 60% of us live near our grandchildren.
- 46% wish they could live even closer.
- 70% see their grandchildren at least once a week.
- 66% travel with their grandchildren.
- 81% have their grandkids for part or all of their summer vacation.
- 72% of us take care of our grandchildren on a regular basis.
- 13% are primary caregivers.
Take a Bow, Darling!
Which of these facts about grandparents surprised you the most?
Ready to share your unique story with your grandchildren? Grab your copy of Stories for my Grandchild!
Statistics can be found from these sources:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2015/09/13/5-facts-about-american-grandparents/
https://grandkidsmatter.org/hot-topics/grandchildren/what-a-grandparents-unconditional-love-does/
https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2021/11/17/emotional-closeness-between-grandparents-and-grandchildren
Thank you for sharing these facts….I’m among the 46% that wishes they lived closer to their grands, mine live in three different states from where I reside. However, this week I am happy to be in GA to see my grandson graduate from high school. Being a grandparent is one of the greatest privileges ever….and, I’m known as Tutu (meaning grandmother in the Hawaiian language)
I have 8 grandchildren! We love them all dearly and equally. 4 of our grandkids are bi-racial. No issues whatsoever with our daughters family. Our oldest son has had issues with us ever since he had his first child 9.5 years ago. They call us racist but believe they are racist. Daughter in law, teaching her kids that myself and husband are racist and found that for few years now. There is nothing we can do right, period. How can I move on ? My 5 grandkids here in Arizona are close with us. The Denver have removed all contacts between them, kids and us. Our hearts are broken!🥲🥲🥲
I understand your hearts are broken and your frustration. I can only explain this to you because I am in your shoes. We have no choice but to ‘accept’ what we cannot change and go on with our lives. We cannot let those family members ruin our lives. Warmly, Honey
Correction: 8.5 years ago.
Thank you for your help. Warmly, Honey