How do I balance being a grandparent and a parent at the same time?

You're not supposed to be both equally, and that's the hardest part to accept. You'll need to be parent first—the structure, the discipline, the consistency, the financial worry. But you don't have to lose the grandparent part. The difference is that a grandparent loves without transaction; a parent provides without needing gratitude in return. What Rabia understood was that love becomes purer when you stop keeping score. You might set a bedtime (parent role) and then sit with your grandkid's fears at 8 PM (grandparent heart). You enforce homework (parent) but also know when to let something go because the relationship matters more (grandparent wisdom). The exhaustion you feel is real—you're doing two jobs at different life stages. Don't pretend you're not tired. But also notice the days when your grandkid laughs easily, when they trust you enough to be vulnerable, when they know they belong somewhere. That's not a transaction. That's legacy. Set boundaries where you need them. Release guilt where you're doing your best. And find one person who understands this specific weight so you're not carrying it alone.