First-generation migrants become grandparents: how migration backgrounds affect intergenerational relationships

First-generation migrants are not only reaching the age of retirement, but they are also becoming grandparents in the host society. Through the specific case of Portuguese migrants in Luxembourg, we look at what point their migration background becomes important to their intergenerational relationships. We have acquired the data for this article from biographical narrative interviews with ten older first-generation grandparents and ten second-generation parents. On the basis of these findings, we address three important aspects of intergenerational relations: (i) how first-generation migrants socialize their grandchildren, (ii) grandparental mobility patterns and their embeddedness in practices of socialization and care, and (iii) the challenges produced by language in intergenerational relationships.