This preliminary study considers the role of grandparent from a clinical perspective. Twenty-six clinical cases are examined to determine what sorts of grandparenting themes are described depicting positive-negative and ambivalent themes about grandparents. The data support the clinical literature which indicates that grandparenting styles are idiosyncratic and that the grandparent role is valued according to how the personal needs of grandparents are fulfilled. Questions are raised suggesting that an effort be made to determine whether elderly persons would be interested in a program which would place isolated grandparents in the mainstream of family life by offering opportunities to become surrogate parents.