RELATIONSHIP THESAURUS

GRANDPARENT AND GRANDCHILD



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HELPFUL TIP:

Relationships are part of the very fabric of your character’s life. How well or poorly they get along with others oftentimes comes down to personality, so carefully consider the positive traits and negative traits of your story’s cast. Another factor that can pull characters together or create friction is motivation, so keep each individual’s goal—both at the scene and story level—in mind as you write.
DESCRIPTION:
The grandparent/grandchild relationship is as varied as any familial relationship, running the gamut from intimate to distantly polite to toxic. Many factors will play into this relationship, such as physical distance between the parties, differing ideologies, and the parent's influence, so it's important to explore it from every angle to determine what will work best for your characters and story.

RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS:
Below are a wide range of dynamics that may accompany this relationship. Use the ideas that suit your story and work best for your characters to bring about and/or resolve the necessary conflict.

Unconditional loved based on family ties
A grandparent who gives the grandchild the freedom to establish their own beliefs and values
A grandparent who backs up the efforts and parenting philosophies of the grandchild's parents
A grandparent being a listening ear and part of the grandchild's support system
A grandchild helping and supporting an elderly grandparent on a practical level
A grandparent learning new ideas and skills from their grandchild
A grandchild seeing their grandparent as a source of wisdom and guidance
A grandparent and grandchild who do not know one another well, if at all
A grandparent and grandchild who are cordial and polite but have no deeper relationship
The grandparent being too permissive in an attempt to be the grandchild's friend 
The grandparent modeling bad behavior the grandchild may emulate
A grandparent controlling and manipulating the grandchild
A grandchild who manipulates their grandparent to circumvent their parents
Conditional love based on the grandchild's obedience and achievement
A neglectful or disinterested grandparent
An abusive or cruel grandparent

CHALLENGES THAT COULD THREATEN THE STATUS QUO:
The grandparent being physically or financially unable to visit their grandchild
The grandchild's family moving far away
The grandparent falling ill or being diagnosed with a serious medical condition
A new grandchild entering the scene
The grandparent needing to move into an assisted living facility
The grandparent refusing a request for help from the grandchild
The child's parent being imprisoned, abandoning them, or dying
The grandchild being forced to spend time with the grandparent
Either party revealing a sensitive secret to the other
The grandparent needing to move in with the grandchild's family
The grandparent losing their spouse
The grandparent not accepting the lifestyle choices of the grandchild
A falling-out between the grandparent and the child's parent
The grandparent divorcing their spouse or remarrying
The grandchild needing financial help from their grandparent
The grandchild needing to live with the grandparent
The grandparent neglecting their grandchild or putting them in harm's way

WOUNDS THAT COULD FACTOR INTO THE RELATIONSHIP:
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POSSIBLE CONFLICT SCENARIOS:
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CONFLICTING DESIRES THAT CAN IMPAIR THE RELATIONSHIP:
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CLASHING PERSONALITY TRAIT COMBINATIONS:
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NEGATIVE OUTCOMES OF FRICTION:
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FICTIONAL SCENARIOS THAT COULD TURN THESE CHARACTERS INTO ALLIES:
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WAYS THIS RELATIONSHIP MAY LEAD TO POSITIVE GROWTH:
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THEMES AND SYMBOLS THAT CAN BE EXPLORED THROUGH THIS RELATIONSHIP:
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