ABSTRACT
After the abolition of slavery families began to form and parenting and grand-parenting responsibilities had to be learnt. The dominant family structure that emerged required grandmothers to take an important role, and they have remained at the centre of most Caribbean families. In Caribbean societies there has never been full employment. The first generation of migrants to the UK in the 1950s and 60s did not have the everyday experience of their own mothers moving into the grand-parenting role, or of moving gently into grand parenting themselves. Their parents became parents again in their absence, earning money abroad. Mrs Gordon, who was in her sixties, came to talk about some worries, which she could not talk about with friends. The breakup of her son's relationship had also led to her losing her very much loved first granddaughter. Some grandmothers are the opposite to intrusive. They want as little as possible or nothing to do with their grandchildren.
