Becoming a grandparent is a special kind of joy and this can only be felt when you become one.
Grandparenting is indeed enjoyable. Grandparents soak up every second with their grandchildren and are doing their best to help out.
Being a grandparent is all about joy and less about the stress. They have snuggles, love, fun, and joyful moments, without the responsibility that comes from caring for your own kids.
Having grandchildren is like a youth elixir, a blessing, and a time-travel machine. And, grandparents and grandkids both benefit from spending time together.
Studies suggest that grandparents, their grandkids, and the parents all benefit from a quality bond with each other. It’s important to have support and someone who’s experienced and can help out with support and care.
And, research emphasizes that maternal grandmas are particularly important. Mothers’ moms are very important in the process of raising kids.
Why Are Maternal Grandmas so Important?
Science Daily notes that the importance of maternal grandmas has to do with evolution. Family members related through mothers are predicted to be more important than the ones related through their dads.
Women were always related by maternity and maternal grandparents were always more certain to be close to the children than paternal grandparents.
The Genetic Influence of Maternal Grandparents
Genetic influence plays a major role in explaining the importance of grandkids’ closeness with their maternal grandparents.
Studies suggest there’s a genetic connection between maternal grandmas and grandkids. These grandmas gave birth to the moms who gave birth to the grandkids and therefore, they have a closer connection.
Throughout the world, regardless of the societal and geographical differences, maternal grandparents tend to accept more responsibilities with the children and spend more time with them.
Some theories also indicate that genetically, paternal and maternal grandmothers devote love or time to their grandkids. And, the X-chromosome connecition supports this theory.
Namely, maternal grandmas share 25 percent X-relatedness to their grandkids whereas paternal ones give one of their X-chromosomes to their granddaughters; however, they don’t give anything to the grandsons.
With this in mind, it means that paternal grandmas have a zero percent X-relation to their grandsons and 50 percent X-relatedness to their granddaughters.
Does This Mean that Maternal Grandparents Are Closer to their Grandkids than Paternal Grandparents?
Not all grandparents are created the same. Scientific findings and anecdotal evidence note that usually, maternal grandparents are closer to the grandkids.
Some believe that this difference has to do with the role of the parents as gatekeepers between grandparents and parents. Many mothers will heighten their kids’ relationship with her parents.
Others believe that it may have to do with the relationship between women and their mother in laws. This isn’t an easy relationship and it can often be complex.
Early Bonding Matters
The preference of children for maternal grandparents begins early on. Maternal grandmas are likelier to be invited in the delivery room.
And, they’re more likely to help around the birth, which eases the early bonding with the kid. Grandparents who bond with their grandkids from early on are more likelier to be asked to babysit or to take part in school activities.
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