blending grandparents

Both my parents and my husband’s parents are divorced and remarried. Therefore, our kids have eight grandparents! We often struggle over juggling all the grandparents – which house to visit for the holidays, etc. Does anybody have a system that works?

My husband’s parents are divorced and the kids have never met their paternal grandfather because he lives in another state.  It’s really confusing for my kids when he calls on the phone because my husband will say, “Talk to Grandpa!” and the kids have no idea who this guy is, especially since they consider my husband’s step-dad to be “grandpa.”  I’ve tried to explain it to them, but I don’t think they get it.

Yes! I can relate! We have to call each one by a different name—we have papa, nana, grammie and grandma, grampa… etc. Even I get confused!! What is worse, they all live out of the area… so my kids often don’t even know who they are talking to on the phone :(

We don’t have quite so many as my husband’s parents are still married.  But my mom is divorced and remarried and they just call him by his first name. . .probably because I do. 

Our family jokes that we celebrate festivus.    My mother in law decided it was more important to her that everyone be at the table rather than trying to celebrate on a given day so we always do Christmas early or late. . .same with other holidays.  For us it’s not an issue but my husband’s brothers have issues with family like that.  All that to say. . .maybe you need a festivus!