R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Around 2.5 million grandparents - one in five - go for more than a month without seeing their grandchildren

This is largely because of geographical distance - 74% of those grandparents live in a different part of the country from their grandchildren.

However 71% of those living in a different part of the country do speak to their grandchildren on the phone at least once a month.

The survey also found that 65% of grandparents speak to their grandchildren on the phone at least once a week.

The study, published ahead of Grandparent's Day tomorrow, was carried out by ICM for Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust, who run a telephone befriending service for isolated and vulnerable older people, A Call in Time.

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I never used to see my Grandparents for years.

firewirefred · Guest

I'll grant you one thing, Mark. You have a busy life.....

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I had only one grandparent who survived my infancy and rarely saw her.

By contrast I see my grandsons most weekends.

Can recommend!

Ian.

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:37 am Post subject:

My Mum's Parents lived reasonably locally, so we saw them regularly. My Dad's parents lived over 300 miles away, and in the '60's it was a major undertaking to go and see them, but still we managed it once a year. I at least speak to MY grandkids on a weekly basis.
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Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Briant · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:52 pm Post subject:

I see my grandchildren at least three times a week! By the time we tidy up tonight-and relax-after today's visit we know they'll be here again tomorrow to 'wreck' the place again! We wouldn't have it any other way!

Barkingbiker · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2313 Location: Lincolnshire

I see my eldest grandson every day, he lives with us, magic, well most of the time having a 19 year old living with you. See my youngest grandson at the very least every week, go and see him play football, every Sunday and he stays at least 1 weekend a month and normally 2 which is great as it keeps me young at heart. Very Happy

BB

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Old Bikers Never Die, our leathers just get tighter!

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Mark,

Have these statistics changed much in recent years?

I'm the youngest from the generation of my family, i.e. all my cosins are older than me, some are now in thier 70s. So I never knew my dad's parents and the mum's parents had died by the time I was 20 (both in their 80s) and I only saw them every ouple of years.

My dad's dad was born in 1866 !

firewirefred, please note how much the members here enjoy Marks' news alerts, I guess you think we are ALL sad, eh?? It's sadder to see you stalking contributors and trolling popular threads Evil or Very Mad

John W

quickssandra · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 158 Location: Scotland

Don't you think this is probably because of more people moving away due to work?

We have moved twice because of work, and we're not in a place I'd ever have moved to voluntarily. I'd much rather live where I was born, but that's not possible.

It was unusual to move around when I was young, it isn't anymore and unless grandparents can move when they retire, they won't get the chance to see as much of their grandchildren as they would if they lived nearby.

QS

Barkingbiker · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2313 Location: Lincolnshire

We moved here in 81, just bought a house to get on the housing ladder while in the RAF and returning to Coningsby from Gutersloh. Got posted to Suffolk 3 years latter and told my other half we will sell up and buy anorther house in Stowmarket; sod that she said, you can live in the Mess I ain't moving from here. So we stayed put in Lincolnshire and since then my parents have moved locally, so we see our kids & grand kids and they also see their parents, grandparents & great grand parents.

PS Grandson's football was great today, they won 2 - 1 in a cup match. Very Happy

BB

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Old Bikers Never Die, our leathers just get tighter!