I’ve spent the past few weeks trying to get clearer about the question underneath everything I’ve been writing.
I think I’ve found it.
What are grandads for now?
When I first became a grandfather, my questions were mostly personal.
What sort of grandad did I want to be?
How could I make the most of the time I had?
What could I do that might genuinely matter to my grandson?
I still care about all of those things.
But the more I looked, the more I realised there was a much bigger question sitting underneath them.
The world has changed enormously.
Childhood has changed.
Parenting has changed.
Men have changed.
We’re living longer.
We’re working differently.
Families are different.
And yet our picture of Grandad hasn’t changed much at all.
That started to bother me.
Not because I think grandfathers need another set of expectations placed upon them.
Quite the opposite.
I think there may be an opportunity here that we’re overlooking.
Kids need capable adults.
Parents need backup.
Men need purpose.
And sitting right in the middle of those three needs are millions of grandads.
So I’ve spent some time trying to understand what’s changed, what hasn’t, and whether there really is a case for thinking differently about grandfathering.
I’ve put it all together in a new piece:
What Are Grandads For Now?
The modern grandfather arrived. His job description didn’t.
It’s the clearest explanation I’ve written so far of what I’m trying to figure out with Modern Grandad.
I don’t think I’ve found the answer.
I think I’ve found the question.