Was/Is Your Dad A Better Grandfather Than A Father?

[Chevelle]

I watch my Dad with his Grandkids and he is amazing. He was a good father but he had a very high stress job. He's retired now so I think that makes a big difference. He actually spends more time doing things with them than my Mom does. Just wondering if anyone else has seen this with their Dads or Step-Dads.

[JulieDB]

My dad doesn't do well with children. And he never did. He loses his temper easily for the sort of things that kids would normally do. His own dad died when he was 8 and his mom expected him to be a grownup then. He had to go to work and earn money for the family. So perhaps because he didn't have much of a childhood he doesn't understand these things.

[kschick96]

My dad is a much better father and now grandfather now that he is older. More patience, more relaxed, more loving. My dad never told me he loved me until I left for college. Now he says it all the time to both me and DS.

[scrapper2]

My Dad was a FABULOUS Dad and I grew up in the " Leave- It- To Beaver" generation with very traditional roles. I couldn't have ask for a more wonderful, involved,kind, loving person for my Dad. He is the oldest of 8 children and grew up during the WW1 era. My Dad is a great Grandpa. As far as Dad's go he just couldn't be topped. I am blessed as he is a great Dad and my kids have the same man for a grandpa. His body may be older, but he's still the same person.

[shelleyf]

I am happy you all have close relationships with your Dads. I don't speak to mine anymore. Growing up he told me he didn't want kids and that he couldn't wait until my sister and I were 18 so he wouldn't have to pay for us anymore. At my graduation he said it was the most boring thing he ever went to. I tried over the years to get him to accept me but it has not worked. I haven't seen him in almost 14 years and haven't spoken to him in 6 years. I tried again 6 years ago but he told me he would call me when he could and he hasn't since. I am ok with it, it hurts but all I can do is pray for him. So be thankful if you have a great relationship with your Dad. It is not something to take for granted. Now my Mom on the other hand I am very close to her. Always have been and she is such a sweetheart.

[Jen1]

Sadly, My dad passed before my any of my children were born. I often think of how he would be with my kids....taking them fishing/camping/etc. He was a good dad and I'm sure he would've been an awesome grandpa! We 'visit' dad often and I try to have my kids "know" their grandpa. I'm sure he watches over us as well.

[postalchick71]

My Dad was a great Dad while we were growing up. When he got grandchildren he was retired and he was an equally good grandfather. I miss him so much since he passed away.

[434Teresa]

My dad never had anything to do with me as a child..for many reasons tho....him and my mom was not together when I was a child, but they found each other again about 12 years ago and I have to say NO he is not any better to my kids than he was to me. I am thinking that I did not miss out on anything with him not being around me when I was a kid. He wont even learn my kids names, yes I am for real he dont know their names...

[CW&M Mom]

Absolutely YES.

My father has very serious issues when it comes to discipline. He is ridiculously short tempered and never ever ever understood that he took things too far, blew things out of proportion and caused much of our behavior by the way he acted and behaved. He also spanked us way too much, always in anger and used discipline techniques like spanking when it was way beyond age appropriateness (he threatened once to spank me when I was 19. I told him to go ahead ).

Since he does very little disciplining of my children they mostly just see his happy pleasant side.

[momof2inohio]

My Dad was a wonderful Dad and a great grandpa!! I think he is able to spend more time with his grandkids than he was able to with me when I was growing up. Having his own business..he was always working. He is very close with my son. I think its because he never had a son (I am an only child). I often wonder if my Dad would have liked to have had more kids but my Mom didn't...I don't know.