My dad is like this. Getting better since DS turned 4, but still won't call him by his name. My mother is either overbearing or disinterested, usually overbearing, but hurtfully disinterested during pregnancy. No, not just disinterested. Interested in every pregnancy/baby around her, but not mine at the other end of the country. Even down to giving away things she'd told me she'd bought for Liebs to other babies and not replacing them, or buying stuff for Liebs from car boot sales rather than something that wasn't tatty and drawn on and missing pieces.

My MiL is less emotional and that has hurt me in the past as she just isn't interested in seeing and cooing over babies, but she's better now DS interacts with her. MiL is less hurtful because she's honest with it - my mother pretends she's great and for now Liebs is going with it - he'll change his mind when he's older! But then I am fairly objective with babies, don't fuss that much and only do the "isn't he/she gorgeous?" because it's expected. I want grandchildren, but if I'm honest grandbabies will have me visiting and cooing, but I enjoy older children more.

My Granny really isn't a baby person, but she's a great person and lack of grandmotherly (and great-grandmotherly) pride in a baby doesn't stop her being great.

Just the view from the other side of the fence - and I worry now I'll be seen as a dreadful grandmother when my time comes!