I have a theory to share, but I'm sure it's not original and has been mentioned somewhere, by somebody, before.

Parents, never make good parents.

They experiment with parenting methods with their kids. For their first, they could alternate between sweet and harsh; their second, with punishment; their third, sweetness. Just to see whichever works.

Which is why parents never make good parents.

It is only once they have experimented and tabulated the data both consciously and subconsciously over the years, that they learn to become better parents.

Which is why grandparents are the best parents.

They shower their grandchildren with affection that they do not bestow so readily on their own kids, because they are still figuring out how. They also bestow infinite wisdom and lessons-of-life.

Which reminds me of another theory I came across, and I think it's proven. That grandmothers are necessary. Never underestimate the nurturing power of the grandmother. Don't you think your grandmothers seem to understand you better than your actual parents? They do. Grandma's play an important role in shaping children.

Think of the usual scenario: parents go to work, and the grandmother, and sometimes grandfather as well, take care of the younger ones for a few hours, playing substitute parents. This behavior is also apparent in apes, as the grandma apes look after the young while mom ape and daddy ape go foraging for food. Little apes without grandma apes grow up to be less coordinated, and tend to be withdrawn.

Go grannies!

I have a theory to share, but I'm sure it's not original and has been mentioned somewhere, by somebody, before.

Parents, never make good parents.

They experiment with parenting methods with their kids. For their first, they could alternate between sweet and harsh; their second, with punishment; their third, sweetness. Just to see whichever works.

Which is why parents never make good parents.

It is only once they have experimented and tabulated the data both consciously and subconsciously over the years, that they learn to become better parents.

Which is why grandparents are the best parents.

They shower their grandchildren with affection that they do not bestow so readily on their own kids, because they are still figuring out how. They also bestow infinite wisdom and lessons-of-life.

Which reminds me of another theory I came across, and I think it's proven. That grandmothers are necessary. Never underestimate the nurturing power of the grandmother. Don't you think your grandmothers seem to understand you better than your actual parents? They do. Grandma's play an important role in shaping children.

Think of the usual scenario: parents go to work, and the grandmother, and sometimes grandfather as well, take care of the younger ones for a few hours, playing substitute parents. This behavior is also apparent in apes, as the grandma apes look after the young while mom ape and daddy ape go foraging for food. Little apes without grandma apes grow up to be less coordinated, and tend to be withdrawn.

Go grannies!