Any grandparent knows the joy it brings. The bonding experience between grandparent and grandchild is special: Most grandparents enjoy spoiling their grandchildren and lavishing them with a love unmatched by any other . . . in part because it’s so different from parenting itself. (“All the pleasures, none of the headaches!”)

A grandparent’s role in the lives of their grandchildren takes many forms. Though some of us enjoy extended families and live in multi-generational households, most of us don’t. So grandparents want to make the most of the time they spend with their grandchildren, since they may not see them as often as they would like. And grandchildren look forward to those days, knowing it’s going to be fun and memorable—as well as a break from their normal routine.

Grandparents can impart—to parents and grandchildren—the wisdom gleaned from living a long life of trials and tribulations. Sometimes their insight can make a difficult situation seem so simple. Parents, now that they have children of their own, and a broader perspective on their own rearing, may be more willing to listen, this time around. And grandchildren usually know their grandparents love them unconditionally, and can “hear” better from those who may not be involved in the day-to-day conflicts of direct parenting.

And there are stories only grandparents can tell. History books just can’t match the details of a well-told family story. Grandchildren can learn about their ancestry, and the struggles and triumphs of their grandparents—and gain some perspective on their own parents, back when they were the age the grandchildren are now! Family histories can add heart and humor to the plain facts of various eras learned in school, or can even open up a whole new world of understanding and wonder a child may not otherwise ever know.

While parents have the primary duties of discipline and guidance for their children, grandparents fulfill a role often just as important. By being there for our grandchildren, either by being an active part of their lives, or often just by listening, we give them another layer of love and stability. It is a relationship with immeasurable rewards for everyone involved.