When Your Grandparents Are Friends
Start writing a post
Relationships

When Your Grandparents Are Friends

The benefits are endless.

25
When Your Grandparents Are Friends

Last week, when my dad drove my grandma back from Michigan, I came down from Boston to see him for a few days. One night when I was down there, we had dinner with his mom, as well as my mom's parents. We talked about school and politics and about the experimental stuffed peppers my grandpa made for dinner and how they actually turned out really good. During those dinner conversations, I became very aware of how grateful I am to have grandparents who get along with each other, and more than that, are friends because it enables us to have great dinners together.

When I tell people that my grandparents are friends with each other, I usually get really weird looks back, or the typical, "That's not possible...it's not normal." line, or sometimes even the "Smh, must be nice," line. They don't see how my mom's parents and my dad's parents can be friends with each other. It's as weird to them that they get along as it is weird for me that grandparents usually don't get along with each other. I've never known what it's like to have a family that is separated, where one side doesn't get along with the other, and I wouldn't want to. I like having shared dinners with all of my grandparents with us around the table, and I like spending time and bonding with them all together - I can't imagine my family being any other way.

Having grandparents who get along with one another is so great for so many reasons.

At Christmas time, since my grandparents all come out to Michigan and stay at my parent's house with us, all the festivities are so fun and relaxing. There is no running around to different houses Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; instead we all spend those days together, inside one house, watching movies, eating, playing games, baking cookies, and opening presents, which makes for a much easier and significantly more stress free holiday. During the summer, my mom's parents frequent my dad's parents cottage on the shoreline, and we all spend Fourth of July together, every year, with a bunch of shared family and friends.

Birthday's are great too for the same reason. I've never had separate family birthday parties, and I think it would be strange if I ever did. Since we moved out to Michigan when I was five, we've always had a family birthday party for me around Thanksgiving time at my mom's parent's house. We always celebrate my brother's birthday during the summer at my dad's parent's cottage. Each time, both sets of grandparents are there, which makes the event so much fun because you get to share the excitement with everyone at the same time.

Because my grandparent's get along and are friends, our family does a lot together, apart from celebrating birthday's and holidays. We go to museums together, have regular dinners together, go to movies together...everything. Because of these shared experiences, both my parents are very close with their in laws and have great relationships with them. My brother and I are very close with all of our grandparents. Even my uncle, my mom's brother, is very close to my dad's parents. I think that this strengthens the bonds between everyone in the family, which makes us all very tightly connected.

There is a million other reasons why having grandparents that are friends is great; I could go on forever about the benefits of having grandparents who are friendly, and why I'm grateful for the family that I have. I hope that in the future, my parents and my husband's parents can get along as well as my grandparent's have, as it has set a great example for what I want my future family to look like.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

41483
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

25996
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

951317
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

134828
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments