Craving Grandchildren

Never have I heard a man say, "Oh, I wish my daughter or son would have a baby.  I want a grandchild so bad!"  Nor have I heard a man say, "My mom (or dad) is always pressuring me to have a baby so she (or he) can have a grandbaby!"  Have you heard this?  If so, please comment and let us know. Why is this, since it takes two to generate a child? (Presumably, either the adult child in question is married or their parents want them to be first. Responsible parents will help a daughter having a child out-of-wedlock but never, never encourage it!)

Yet there are many, and you undoubtedly know a few yourself, young and not-so-young women who are greatly and frequently asked by their mothers, "When are you going to get married?  When are you going to have a baby?  Soon, you'll be too old.  I deserve a grandchild!"  I realize that for many of these wanna-be grandmas, they see their friends having fun times with their grandchildren and they also would like to do it.  For others, they just seem to have too much time on their hands.  Most want their daughters to have the same fulfillment of pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing that they have enjoyed.

There is also another reason women pressure their daughter to have babies: they didn't have enough children themselves and they want babies to hold and care for.  That's not a popular answer, and I rather doubt that any of the offending parties would admit it - to themselves or anyone else.  No matter how many or how few or how badly they've lived, I've never heard a woman say, "I wish I'd never had - - -."  But I've heard quite a few say, "I wish I could have had more children.  I had difficult pregnancies.  Etc. Etc."

These days folks are marrying at older ages, if they get married.  Future grandmas need to be patient, volunteer with children if they would like that contact, and take a cue from the future grandpas, all things happen in God's good time!

Praise You Lord, for children, Praise You for grandchildren!  Praise you for the patience of which we could ALL use more!