At least they arent constantly taking selfies for social media like my in laws. As if the whole purpose of visiting grandkids is to get a new facebook picture showing what a proud grandpa you are.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they don't know how to interact with her and could use you to model/initiate.

I bought a lot of age appropriate puzzles when my kids were little and they would do those with their great-grandfather. My mom was a teacher and always into dramatic play so she would use our puppets to make up fantastic stories for our kids, but not every adult has that skill set and could use some help/structure.

This!! And thank you for writing it!

We're close with two of our relatives' families. Both moms introduce activities for us to do with the kids. It helps a lot because we don't get to see the kids frequently so lose track of their current interests.

Anonymous wrote:As a grandparent who witnesses parents constantly on their phone, I find this amusing.

—Sent from Linda’s iPhone or tablet

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree with you. My mom doesn’t do this but my MIL does. ( FIL does not) it drives me batty, and now DD is older it’s driving her batty too.
DDs birthday was today and MIL wanted a pic of DD holding up their cards and presents, all separately…..
her DH and the rest of the family are annoyed by it but enable it to keep the peace, it’s ridiculous.

An older kid should be allowed to calmly and kindly speak up. “Grandma, I’m not going to pose for so many pictures. I’ll do one where I hold all my cards, and one in front of the cake, if you’d like.”

As a grandparent who witnesses parents constantly on their phone, I find this amusing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey mom I'll take some of you and DD playing. Then just take a few.

This. And then otherwise leave them alone and stop micromanaging.

+1

It's hard for some grandparents and younger kids. My ILs also were just watching, taking pictures, etc at that age. But they were around. So now that the kids are older they remember the grandparents being around, don't remember the taking pictures or checked out phase, and have great relationships with them. The ILs are just better with calmer kids who can have a mature conversation, and not frantic, busy toddlers.

My parents can’t visit often. They take lots of videos while they are here and then enjoy watching them once they go back home.

That’s funny. I take lots of pics of my parents (silent generation, they don’t have smart phones or SM) with my kids because they won’t be here soon. They are super modest and not self centered like boomers, so they never complain.

Oh Jesus Christ. Be glad they are interested.

Totally agree with you. My mom doesn’t do this but my MIL does. ( FIL does not) it drives me batty, and now DD is older it’s driving her batty too.
DDs birthday was today and MIL wanted a pic of DD holding up their cards and presents, all separately…..
her DH and the rest of the family are annoyed by it but enable it to keep the peace, it’s ridiculous.

That's way too much content, OP, I agree with you.

You can tell them it's too much, but you can't force them to interact with her.

OP, let it go. Quietly judge them in your mind and just move on. It's not a big deal.

Oh man. This going to be me when I have grandchildren. I love taking pictures. I think it would be a nice reminder to go ahead and put away the camera/phone and actually interact.

They might need a little guidance. My parents had no idea what to do with my kids. Suggest activities for them to do together.