ADVERTISEMENT

Grandparenting can be both very easy and very difficult. On the one hand, you have to make sure your grandkids don’t turn into uncultured brats because of how you spoil them. On the other hand, you don’t have to be as strict as their parents, and that gives you a lot of room for fun.

Very often, advancing in age brings a reassessment of values and life in general, and that’s why grandparents often try to be less restrictive or do things differently, particularly things they think they didn’t do quite correctly with their own children. This is exactly why when you receive a word of advice from your grandma and grandpa, with a couple of rare exceptions, you will find it much more progressive than you actually expected.  

And although the internet is full of meaningful grandparents quotes, we sincerely think that what it needs is more cool grandparents’ advice. For this article, we collected advice from grandparents that people have found useful, valuable, or just simply funny. Scroll down for some grandparent wisdom you could apply to your life as well. What was the best piece of advice you got from your grandparents? Share it with us in the comments.  

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Old man wearing blue shirt, hat and looking "'A cigarette's got fire on one end and a fool on the other." - my grandpa when I was like 12."

Jim_Gaffigans_bacon Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
50points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

Old woman wearing big sombrero "My grandma once chastised me for wearing underwear to bed because I need to 'let my taco air out'"

megafart Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
42points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Old man wearing blue shirt and glasses "Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. So don't waste it."

cattailmatt Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
41points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

Old woman smiling "My grandpa said that a few times, but grandma once bested him by several miles. When my wife and I were trying to conceive she was complaining to my grandma about calendars, ovulation tests, etc. She concluded by saying that getting pregnant was a "pain in the a**."

My dear sweet grandma immediately replied "If it hurts there, you're doing it wrong." The shades of purple I saw on my wife's face that day were truly spectacular."

tehlaser Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
39points
Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#5

senatorkneehi said:
"When I excitedly told my grandmother that the boy I liked was going to prom with me, she said "Don't wear anything with zippers. Make him work for it." She was a spectacular woman."

Choralone replied:
"Grandparents can be great for frank advice... after a certain point in life, many people loosen up again and just speak plainly. It's great."

senatorkneehi Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
36points
Add photo comments
POST
kellyhoward_1 avatar
Kel_how
Kel_how
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister and I were putting together a piece of furniture for my grandmother one day and she said, "You know what you should tell people you did today? You were screwing all afternoon!" She cracked up and then we did.

Vote comment up
13
13points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Woman writing on a notebook "My gram gave me a diary when I went to college and said "write a lot, it's the only way you will remember what happened in college."

Mildly accurate."

RatApples Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
34points
Add photo comments
POST
#7

"Sage advice from my grandmother, while organizing her china cabinet and admiring family heirlooms: "As your parents and relatives age, it's a good idea to start giving them gifts that you really want for yourself, because they're going to find their way back to you rather soon. It's what I've always done! Just remember - 'We don't plan to fail, we fail to plan!'"

riotous_jocundity Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
32points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#8

Grandparents with childrens "Have love and respect for your family, and your friends but above all, yourself."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
32points
Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Old woman looking and smiling "My grandmother once told me 'The best way to get over a man is to get under another.'"

not2old4ffvii Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
31points
Add photo comments
POST
#10

"When I was 15, my mom had walked into my boyfriends room (we were at his house and she was coming to pick me up; his mom just sent her to his room). She caught us making out (of course, since it was the first time ever), and she was LIVID. I got a whole talk about how I was only 15 and how I was too young for that. That weekend, I went to my grandma's and told her about it (we were close) and my grandma replied "What's she think you're gonna do with your life, be a nun?"'

obscurethestorm Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
31points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Old womans at cafe "My grandma, whilst once discussing my new boyfriend, was asking why I was only dating one man. Her 87-year-old advice to 23-year-old me was that in her day she would line up multiple dates, with multiple men to try them out, and once you went on enough dates with one person, then you would go steady. That was the norm. I had to nicely explain to my super conservative Irish catholic grandmother that that is what we so kindly refer to as a "player" nowadays.

Her response: 'Well, I guess I was a player then.'"

scnavi Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
29points
Add photo comments
POST
brendanmccarthy_1 avatar
Trophy Husband
Trophy Husband
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think most people do this. You're a player if you're dishonest about it (the phrase comes from "you're playing those poor girls.")

Vote comment up
2
2points
Vote comment down
reply
#12

Old woman smiling "It's always better to let it out than to keep it in," said my Grandma in regards to passing gas and burping (belching in her case)."

reddit.com Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
28points
Add photo comments
POST
scarlet-patience avatar
Noname
Noname
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My uncle would say "it's easier to bear the shame than the pain".

Vote comment up
2
2points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Grandma with children smiling and hugging "My grandma told me not to date girls from the south in college because they all wanted to get married too young... surprisingly good advice."

Dr_Duty_Howser replied:
"My school's unofficial motto is "a ring by spring or your money back." I feel like I am the only one in South Carolina that doesn't want to be married at 20..."

reddit.com Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
27points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#14

Grandpa with man talking and smiling "Always assume anyone who punches you has the will to kill you. Act accordingly and always treat a fight like its for your life. - Grandpa"

kegman83 Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
27points
Add photo comments
POST
katehaslam avatar
SkyBlueandBlack
SkyBlueandBlack
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"If he's going to hit me, he better kill me, because he's not getting in a second hit." -my grandma

Vote comment up
11
11points
Vote comment down
reply
#15

Woman with children smiling and walking "Be good... and if you can't be good, be smart."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
26points
Add photo comments
POST
shivaho avatar
Shiva Ho
Shiva Ho
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find being both just as damning because Evil people will always have it in for you!

Vote comment up
0
0points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Grandma smiling and holding thumbs up "My grandma once told, while very drunk, if you don't have lube on hand melted butter works just fine..."

scllfof4 Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
25points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Old woman with hat smiling "When I came out to my grandma, she smiled and told me not to have s** with dudes in restroom stalls. Thanks, Grandma!"

cromble Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
24points
Add photo comments
POST
#18

Woman folding clothes "Don't make yourself too useful."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
24points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#19

Woman standing with graduation clothes "When you make good choices in life, you are in a better position to have good results."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
24points
Add photo comments
POST
shivaho avatar
Shiva Ho
Shiva Ho
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Karma is the One thing no one considers when stuff happens

Vote comment up
0
0points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Bar with drinks "If you meet a man in a bar... that is where he will be throughout your marriage."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
23points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Mother with children sitting and smiling "My grandmother always told me, 'It's just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor man.'"

ms-meetoo Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
21points
Add photo comments
POST
sprite420 avatar
Jeremy James
Jeremy James
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. I just tried to fall in love with Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk and I've got nothing but revulsion.

Vote comment up
18
18points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Old woman wearing glasses and looking "When I was little, I was told to never ever sit on a hardwood/tile/non-carpeted floor because it will ruin your lady bits and you won't be able to make bebbies. I think she meant because it's cold, but I have a degree in biology now and still don't really understand what the hell she was talking about."

PiquantPi Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
20points
Add photo comments
POST
sharronlindsay_1 avatar
Esme Weatherwax
Esme Weatherwax
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was told not to sit on cold things because it causes haemorrhoids

Vote comment up
4
4points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

Old man looking and smiling "My grandparents gave each of their grandkids money for college. Not a fortune, just a few hundred dollars a year to buy a couple books.

So I'm over my grandparents to get said money and my grandmother leaves the room to get her chequebook.

My grandfather motions me over and says, "Don't make it with any Catholic girls because they don't use birth control." Nevermind the fact that we're Catholic..."

Fuqwon Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
20points
Add photo comments
POST
brendanmccarthy_1 avatar
Trophy Husband
Trophy Husband
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How about don't believe the girl is on birth control and just use a condom?

Vote comment up
2
2points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Grandpa with children smiling "I was playing with flashlights at my grandfather's and he told me, 'Stop spilling my milk.' He iterated further by saying, 'Batteries are like milk. if you waste all your milk now you won't have any left for cereal later.'"

reddit.com Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
20points
Add photo comments
POST
nathans_1 avatar
Whiskey Tango Delicious
Whiskey Tango Delicious
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it bad that my first read through, I thought the "a" was an "e" in flashlights?

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Grandparents sitting near lake and looking "Make sure to marry someone that loves you more than you love them."

in_valid Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
20points
Add photo comments
POST
scarlet-patience avatar
Noname
Noname
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In a relationship, the real power is held by the one who cares less.

Vote comment up
4
4points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#26

Woman showing on phone videos and pictures for grandma "My grandma warned me that boys "make a tent" in bed every morning. Thanks, Gramma."

reddit.com Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
19points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Pregnant woman holding her belly "Wait until you are pregnant...

Some favourites have been:

Don't lift your arms above your head you will hang the baby with the cord;

Don't lay on your back, or you will die;

Drink milk so you can breastfeed (pretty sure that's not how it works); and

Don't poke your belly button you can poke your babies soft spot in their skull and they will die."

lawyerlady Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
18points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Different food with vegetables on bed LuLeeJulie said:
"My Aunt Carol never threw food out. Expiration dates had no meaning to her. She always said, "Waste not, want not."'

Cornflower07 replied:
"My grandma is like this. 6 months past it's expiration date? "Oh, those don't mean anything anyway!" Covered in mold? "Just scrape it off!" Already in the trashcan? "Why did you throw that away?" And then she'll pick it up and eat it. I'm shocked she hasn't gotten botulism by now."

LuLeeJulie Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
18points
Add photo comments
POST
sprite420 avatar
Jeremy James
Jeremy James
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My MIL hoards expired food. BIL just did a raid on her pantry and she was furious, picking stuff out of the garbage. She recently "gifted" us a case of probiotic drinks that expired in 2016 and some jarred olives that probably watched, "Murphy Brown," back when Dan Quayle jokes were relevant. "Umm, thaaanks!"

Vote comment up
8
8points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

Grandparents holding hands "My grandma used to tell me that if I didn't moisturize my elbows, boys wouldn't think I was pretty. I still make sure to lotion them down every night before I go to bed so I won't have 'elephant skin.'"

princessssxtina Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
18points
Add photo comments
POST
sprite420 avatar
Jeremy James
Jeremy James
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate how obsessed boys are with elbows. Hey! My eyes are over here!

Vote comment up
4
4points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Old woman eating and looking "My grandmother told me and my sister "Eating honey will make you're b**bs bigger" when we were kids. Well, my sister loved honey, and me, not so much. My sister is a C-cup and I am an A-cup. damnit."

blueeyedconcrete Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
18points
Add photo comments
POST
#31

Old woman wearing glasses and looking "I worked at PetSmart and was helping an old lady lift a heavy bag of cat litter into her car. She asked for a male to help her, but we were a female dominated store and no guys were working that day. She told me she preferred a guy to help, because my uterus could fall out from lifting heavy things."

reddit.com Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
17points
Add photo comments
POST
jessicaspecht avatar
Jessica SpeLangm
Jessica SpeLangm
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WOW! She doesn't know human anatomy, does she? (The customer, I mean)

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#32

Grandparents sitting and watching "No matter how short a guy is, he can always stand on his wallet."

CAPS_LOCK_NAME Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
16points
Add photo comments
POST
brendanmccarthy_1 avatar
Trophy Husband
Trophy Husband
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does this mean money matters more than looks? Technically neither is all that important, but I don't think this is a great lesson.

Vote comment up
4
4points
Vote comment down
reply
#33

Person holding money "Always have your own money and pretend the snakes are on it."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
16points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

Old man looking "'If your bird touches the urinal, it will fall off.' - my grandfather

It took a while to shake the anxiety from peeing."

reddit.com Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
15points
Add photo comments
POST
brendanmccarthy_1 avatar
Trophy Husband
Trophy Husband
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It might not fall off, but there are a lot of serious things that could go wrong from that, so maybe still follow that advice...

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

"Grandma: "Don't lick the yogurt cover, you'll cut yourself!"

It was a plastic cover."

reddit.com Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
15points
Add photo comments
POST
shelbymoonheart avatar
Shelby Moonheart
Shelby Moonheart
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband's mom told him not to lick can lid (after it was opened with a can opener) or he's cut his tongue. He told me this while licking a can lid. He cut his tongue.

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
#36

Ladybug on leave "Catch the ladybug, make a wish and blow them to freedom."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
15points
Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

Grandpa walking with granddaughter "Chew your milk! I once choked on a grape when I was with my grandparents (thank goodness my mom had just shown up to pick us up, because my grandparents' reaction was literally just FREAKING OUT AND RUNNING AROUND).
Ever since then, I'd been told to chew my milk/water/liquid/everything. I feel like fake-chewing water is more likely to cause choking than just drinking it."

yellofeathers Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
14points
Add photo comments
POST
#38

Woman looking and smiling "Turn up the corners of your mouth ― even though it hurts."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
12points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

Old man wearing red shirt and looking "If you want to be happy the rest of your life, marry an ugly woman.

She'll never leave you. And if she does, so what.

He also said 'You can marry more money in five minutes than you can earn in a lifetime.'"

clumaho Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
11points
Add photo comments
POST
#40

Old man looking and smiling "My husband's grandfather told us to never befriend any couples, because one wife will run off with the other husband and leave the other two sad and lonely. We live with married housemates, I wonder what he thinks about us now..."

charcoal_feather Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
10points
Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#41

Old man with hat looking "Never tell your girlfriend/wife that she's attractive. One day she'll build up enough confidence to cheat on you with someone better-looking.

My recently divorced grandfather told me this. I don't agree with it whatsoever."

reddit.com Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
9points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

Woman with red lips looking "Never let them see you sweat."

Report

Vote arrow up
Vote arrow down
8points
Add photo comments
POST
lscott2 avatar
PunnyPanda
PunnyPanda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Be the swan- glide gracefully on the surface while paddling furiously beneath... Only makes sense for hospitality, customer service and legal matters tho, lol.

Vote comment up
2
2points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!