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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Ian Martin

‘Beautiful mundanity and quotidian love’: my joy at being Grandpa

Ian Martin standing precariously with illo of four children hanging from him, one looking at him adoringly, another biting his leg
‘When in doubt, do silly voices’: Ian Martin. Illustration: Serge Seidlitz/The Observer

Our eldest grandchild just celebrated his birthday and, as ever, that meant a bonus unbirthday gift for me. I’ve been a grandfather for 12 years now and oh, my tottering days, what a laugh it all is.

Cynic Laureate Philip Larkin may have had a point about mums and dads, but let’s be honest, he was clueless about grandparents. The thing is, they don’t fuck you up, your gran and gramps. They do not mean to, and they don’t. It’s easy to fall short as a parent, but almost impossible to be a terrible grandparent. I’ve done both, trust me.

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