The Secret Of Grandparenting

WHEN A GRANDCHILD comes along, especially for the first time, it's important to have the right help. In our case, it's a lovely young couple who seem absolutely perfect when it comes to bringing up our grandson.

- Richard Glover

The new baby appears to really like them, which certainly takes away the worry for us. As the grandparent, you can't trust just anybody with such an important job.

Here's the deal: We get the young couple to do most of the difficult work, like feeding the baby, changing nappies and lulling him to sleep. He even lives in their house, so that makes things a lot simpler.

We arrive for the good times, such as when the grandson-who looks very handsome-is available to lie in our arms, arching his tiny back and glancing up at the world as if to comprehend its wonder, all while gesturing towards us with his starfish hands.

Why, you may ask, would a young couple be willing to do all the hard work, while the grandparents enjoy the good times? It's a fair question. When we arrive, the young couple has usually been up all night, dark circles under their eyes, a shuffling quality to their gait.

The grandchild, though, is full of beans. We, the grandparents, take turns rocking him, making eyes at him and telling him he is the most gorgeous child in the world. He wriggles in our arms.

An hour or two later, just when things are about to turn fractious, we hand him back to the young couple and disappear down the front steps.

"See you in a few days," we'll say.