Abstract
This chapter uses material from Netmums’ ‘Coffeehouse’ discussion forum on issues raised by parents relating to grandfathers. The main themes emerging were as follows: parents discouraging access because of difficult intergenerational relationships or concern about the parenting competence of the grandfather; the increasing number of grandfathers caring for grandchildren and whether grandparents should be paid for this service; the importance of maintaining family continuity; the stress of caring for grandparents; and sadness about their sickness, death, and funerals. Less overt were concerns about money and inheritance and darker issues involving possible sexual abuse. Overall, there were comments on the joy most grandfathers brought to grandchildren but the sadness experienced when, by choice or circumstance, they were not involved.
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O’Leary, AM., Buchanan, A. (2016). Grandfathers: The Parents’ Perspective in the United Kingdom. In: Buchanan, A., Rotkirch, A. (eds) Grandfathers. Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56338-5_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56338-5_5
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