Now that people are living longer, children are much more likely these days to get to know their great-grandparents. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about family history and traditions.

Researchers are calling it the “great-grandparent boom” and demographer Kenneth W. Wachter at the University of California, Berkeley, has estimated that by 2030, more than 70% of 8-year-olds are likely to have a living great-grandparent (though that research was done prior to the COVID pandemic, which may interfere with those numbers if we’re not careful).

While some families are still trying to figure out the role of great-grandparents, one great-grandfather has chosen his own – fitness trainer.

Working out with gramps

In a video posted to the Shareably Facebook page that’s already charmed thousands of viewers, a man teases his baby granddaughter about her workout regimen. He even tries to introduce her to the finer points of some strength training exercises.

Of course, it’s all innocent fun since she can’t understand what he’s saying yet – he’s just finding a constructive way to play with her.

“He [is ] just so taken with her from one pop to another go for it before she grows up,” said a commenter who loves his job as (great-)grandfather.

He gets her started on some leg lifts, which she seems to neither enjoy nor reject.

Then we see her visiting with both great-grandparents before getting in some time with the family cat. (The cat, for its part, seems curious but largely unimpressed – you know, like a normal cat.)

“Bet you can’t do a pull-up,” he says as the two spend some time on the couch together.

Baby body image

There’s a big difference between commenting on a child’s appearance and teasing a baby. But that didn’t stop some commenters from thinking this was just the beginning of grooming her for society’s expectations.

“Oh great, already this little girl baby is being told she is bald and she has a body image problem. That she needs to exercise more and get a beautiful body for her to be able to get a boyfriend.and all of this by a male relative. I can just see zero self [esteem],” said one woman.

At a few months old, the odds are low that self-esteem is at stake here.

Of course, in a few years, that’ll change, but so will her entire body and great-grandpa’s approach to interacting with her. We can all probably chill out for now.

While the comments never got nasty, others chimed in to say it looked like a sweet bonding experience.

“What a great start to their bonding experience. Keep it up gramps, just wait and see how proud you will feel when she does take her first steps. Enjoy because believe me they grow up a lot faster than we did.”

Fancy feet

Once great-grandpa gets her up on her feet, there are plenty of questions about doing squats and taking future ballet lessons. But he’s simply making conversation.

For all she knows he could be reciting the Declaration of Independence.

It’s great to talk to babies but it doesn’t matter too much what you say – they’re still learning phonetics, not words!

So maybe she’ll grow up to be a ballerina or a weightlifter, or maybe she’ll loathe exercise as many people do. But we won’t know for a while.

In the meantime, those leg lifts and that movement will at least help tire her out!

Be sure to scroll down for the sweet video.

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Source: Facebook – Shareably, New York Times