Jamie Theakston

I know she was very proud of me and she loved her grandchildren and she loved being able to see them and find out what they've been doing.

And, and it's a sort of, there is a, you're right, there is that, there's a very blissful time in our lives when our parents are still a very, still playing quite an active part in our lives.

very useful when it comes to childcare.

But also it's a very, it's a sort of great support mechanism knowing that they're still there.

And there's also something wonderful about seeing that sort of, there is a sort of brief fleeting moment when a family as a whole, as a whole, grandparents, you, kids, all together,

And everyone is young enough or old enough, whichever side of the spectrum we're at, to be able to appreciate that.

And it's a really blissful time.

And then the kids get older and bring all the fun that teenage years can bring.

And then the thing, and then your parents die.

And that's like, no one is your way home.

What's that?

No, one's really prepared us for that part of our lives.

And so that can actually be a time of great upheaval, I think.

for anyone to have to be able to get to grips with when your children don't need you in the same way that they used to and that happens in a blink of an eye and then as parents we're struggling to the parenting becomes very difficult then because your your children can start thinking for themselves and making their own decisions and then

you kind of have to adjust to that go well how where at when do i where do i impose myself and where do i have to sit off and just allow them to get on with it so whilst you're dealing with that you know dropping the clutch and changing gear on that you've also got on the other side your parents suddenly getting ill or dying and um

So my mum dying wasn't a great shock cause she'd been unwell for some time.

And then my dad was left on his own.

Yeah, they were.

They did everything together.

He's never been a very expressive, kind of emotional kind of guy.