“Grandma expects me to call her every week or more, but I have my own life too.”

Hanging on the phone with your mom or friend is the norm. Some people cannot imagine a day without at least a short conversation with the closest person we don’t live with. And how often do we dial grandma’s or grandpa’s number? We asked several people about it. It turns out that many of them do it too rarely.

Of course, there is no golden rule about how many times a year, month or week we should call or visit grandma and grandpa. It all depends on what kind of relationship we have, how far we live or how much time we spent together before. We probably visited them a little more often when we were children. However, when we grew up and our heads started to worry about our own matters, such as studies, work, children, the contact may have changed a bit. He could, but he didn’t have to. The accounts of our interlocutors are perfect examples

“Sometimes I record our conversations to recall them”

I was in almost daily contact with my grandmother. We had a habit of getting up very early in the morning to go for a walk with the dog. Then she called me to make sure I wouldn’t oversleep for work and we drank coffee together remotely

– Natalia told us. Patrycja also cannot imagine a day without contact with her beloved grandmother. They are so close that he documents their meetings and conversations.

My grandmother is 86 years old, lives alone and is 300 km away from us, so I call her every day to make her feel less lonely. I really enjoy these conversations. Most often, she tells me what her beloved cat and dog are doing. Sometimes I record our conversations so that I can look back on them in the future.

I call my grandmother at least once a week. We are over 200 km apart and I can’t visit her regularly, so we make up by talking on the phone. I believe that there is nothing more important to me than family

– Ola confessed in turn.

“Grandma expects me to call her every week.”

Many people would certainly envy such relationships. In many cases, we do not feel such a close bond with our grandmothers and grandfathers. Yes, we have a warm feeling for them, but not necessarily enough to call their number several times a week. Besides, as our next interlocutor, Monika, says, some people simply show their feelings differently.

I called my grandmothers and grandfathers on holidays (i.e. on holidays, birthdays, name days). Plus I visited every time I was in my hometown. We never had a super close relationship that would allow us to chat once a week. We weren’t very effusive with our feelings. But whenever they needed help or something, they could count on me. And I could count on a ride from my grandfather or delicious stuffed cabbage from my grandmother, if I dreamed of it and asked for it.

It also happens that grandmothers or grandfathers even demand contact with us. This is what it looks like for Aneta, who doesn’t always have as much time for her grandmother as she requires.

Grandma expects me to call her every week or more, but I have my own life too. It’s hard for me to find time for everything every day. Sometimes I feel guilty that I do it too rarely, but I try to be regular. I always make a phone call once or twice a month, and of course on all holidays, birthdays and name days

It also happens that we feel a stronger bond only with our grandmother or only with our grandfather. After their departure, contact with the latter weakens slightly. This type of relationship was described to us by Asia.

I must admit that I visited my grandparents more often when my grandmother, with whom I was very close, was alive. Although I didn’t have children back then, so I also had more time for such meetings.

I visit my grandfather on average once a month or once every two months and I always feel guilty that I do it too rarely. Especially since my grandfather is 95 years old and I know how important such meetings are for him. I always try to take my kids and his great-grandchildren to him. And although it’s usually obvious that Grandpa doesn’t understand what the boys are saying to him (especially the younger son, who speaks less clearly and has hearing problems), he is clearly happy with our visits. During such meetings, the grandfather usually remembers his youth and tells various interesting stories. After visiting him, I always promise that next time I will come sooner.

And what does it look like for you? Do you feel guilty that you talk to grandma and grandpa too rarely? Or maybe, on the contrary, you devote literally every free moment to them? Let me know in the comments.