I’m always intrigued when I see adults (30s+) with able bodied grandparents - How is that possible?

[Anonymous]

I’m 46 and have an able bodied grandparent. My mother and grandmother were both around 25 when they had kids, not a teen mom scenario.

[Anonymous]

My same-age cousin had a baby at 15 and was a grandmother at 34. Her own mother had her at 23 so she was a great-grandmother at 57.

I didn't have my first child until 41.

[Anonymous]

My grandma died at almost 95. All her grandkids were in mid 30’s to almost 50. Up until 90, she was still able to host and travel etc.

[Anonymous]

My grandma had my mom at 25 and my mom had me at 25. So when I was 30 grandma was 85.

[Anonymous]

My husband was a step-grandfather at 36. (Stepdaughter had a baby at 18.) Then he became a step-great-grandfather at 58.

We had our own child when I was 38 and he 51. His own grandparents died in their mid-90s when he was 53.

[Anonymous]

^^
Forgot to say above everyone able-bodied and productive til the day they died.

[Anonymous]

When I was in my 30’s my grandparents were in their late 70’s/early 80’s. Plenty of people that age are still able bodied.

[Anonymous]

Ds's grandma gardened and baked for farmer's markets into her 90's. She didn't host Thanksgiving because she didn't like to. MIL always commented that Grandma would cook for everyone but her family.

She was active, never smoked. Outlived two husbands and a child. Arthritis is what finally slowed her down at 93.

[Anonymous]

I'm 50 and my parents and in-laws are all in their late 70s and are healthy and active. Helps that they had my DH and I in their mid-20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ds's grandma gardened and baked for farmer's markets into her 90's. She didn't host Thanksgiving because she didn't like to. MIL always commented that Grandma would cook for everyone but her family.

She was active, never smoked. Outlived two husbands and a child. Arthritis is what finally slowed her down at 93.

This is important to recognize. My mom is 91 (with great-grand-children) and is active every day in senior-stuff. All of her friends in their 80s and 90s, though, have outlived children and grandchildren. My mom says that is due to surviving the Great Depression and WW2. You just push on.

Even the loss of my father 2 years ago did not slow her down much. Just push on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ds's grandma gardened and baked for farmer's markets into her 90's. She didn't host Thanksgiving because she didn't like to. MIL always commented that Grandma would cook for everyone but her family.

She was active, never smoked. Outlived two husbands and a child. Arthritis is what finally slowed her down at 93.

This is important to recognize. My mom is 91 (with great-grand-children) and is active every day in senior-stuff. All of her friends in their 80s and 90s, though, have outlived children and grandchildren. My mom says that is due to surviving the Great Depression and WW2. You just push on.

Even the loss of my father 2 years ago did not slow her down much. Just push on.

Yes, exactly.

[Anonymous]

I’m 43 and my parents are 77 and 81. My last grandparent passed when I was 36, the one remaining prior to that passed when I was 12. My parents were rather old for their time when they had me, so I often feel like I almost have grandparent aged parents compared to my peers.

[Anonymous]

My grandma, mom, and me all had kids in our late 20s so my grandmother is in her mid 90s now. She’s in good health for her age but she’s old, no way around it.

Having kids late teens/early 20s allows for active/young grandparents when you are in your 30s but I don’t know that it’s always a good idea to have kids that early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 43 and my parents are 77 and 81. My last grandparent passed when I was 36, the one remaining prior to that passed when I was 12. My parents were rather old for their time when they had me, so I often feel like I almost have grandparent aged parents compared to my peers.

+1 my grandparents were all born before 1910. I come from generations of parents who had kids later than many. While I see young parents/ grandparents and think it looks fun and comes with a lot of benefits, it still seems very unfamiliar too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ds's grandma gardened and baked for farmer's markets into her 90's. She didn't host Thanksgiving because she didn't like to. MIL always commented that Grandma would cook for everyone but her family.

She was active, never smoked. Outlived two husbands and a child. Arthritis is what finally slowed her down at 93.

This is important to recognize. My mom is 91 (with great-grand-children) and is active every day in senior-stuff. All of her friends in their 80s and 90s, though, have outlived children and grandchildren. My mom says that is due to surviving the Great Depression and WW2. You just push on.

Even the loss of my father 2 years ago did not slow her down much. Just push on.

Agree. Immigrants of that time are also outstanding, in their resourcefulness, common sense, ambition, energy and capabilities.