“A treasure trove of wisdom” is how astrologer Maressa Brown describes grandparents born in November. In her Parade piece on grandparenting styles, she says those grandparents offer depth and guidance, from zoo visits when the kids are small to meaningful conversations once they are older.
November is one of 4 birth months that astrology writers link to the most devoted grandparents. The other three are February, May and August, and each comes with its own flavor of doting. None of it is science, but it makes a fun conversation at the holiday table.
How Parade Pairs Birth Months With Grandparenting Styles
Two Parade pieces, one of them republished on AOL, supply the descriptions. One, by writer MaKayla McRae, assigns a grandparent type to each birth month and ties each type to a pair of Sun signs. The other, by astrologer Maressa Brown, author of Raising Baby by the Stars, bases its grandparent styles on the Sun’s sign at birth. Anyone curious about what grandparents mean to a family can start with things grandparents do that grandchildren secretly appreciate, then pair it with the best kids’ movies based on books for the next family movie night.
February and May: The Listener and the Keeper of Traditions
February. Parade writer MaKayla McRae, in a piece on the birth months that make the best grandparents, describes February grandparents as compassionate and empathetic, the kind who make every family member feel welcome. Aquarius types are described as thoughtful and caring about people and ideas, and Pisces types as gentle and imaginative. In McRae’s words, they are “great listeners who offer gentle advice and encourage self-expression.” That kind of attention rings true with the gifts grandchildren say they treasured most from their grandparents, and with the quiet nostalgia of little rituals from the 80s and 90s. Brown’s take is a little more artistic: she calls them the creative, dreamer grandparents who “tap into their artistic impulses” with grandchildren.
May. McRae’s version of a May grandparent is steady and dependable, the one who keeps the family connected. Taurus types are described as patient, stable and traditional, and Gemini types as lively and curious. They often host family dinners, remember birthdays and pass traditions to the next generation. Brown labels May the playful, practical month, with a lighthearted streak and a love of learning that builds lasting memories. Those traditions echo the small ways some grandparents make childhood feel magical. Holiday dinners at a grandparent’s table often start with a trip, which is where luggage sets for holiday trips come in. The practical side of grandparenting is real, too, as the AARP grandparent economy study shows, and boomer habits that are making a comeback are a reminder that devotion often arrives as practical help.
August and November: The Cheerleader and the Protector
August. According to the first Parade piece, August grandparents are encouraging and uplifting, proud of the family and happiest watching the kids grow. Leo types are described as bold and confident, and Virgo types as disciplined and detail-oriented. They cheer at school events and offer advice during important moments. Brown calls them charismatic and service-oriented, the kind who will “lend a shoulder for them to lean on” when a grandchild or the grandchild’s parent needs support.
November. McRae describes November grandparents as protective and devoted, people who take family seriously. Scorpio types are described as passionate and emotionally bonded, and Sagittarius types as adventurous and curious. They are loyal and step in when grandchildren need support. In Brown’s Parade guide to grandparent types by birth month, the November grandparent is a spiritual mentor who helps grandchildren grow personally.
What the Four Months Have in Common
Line the 4 up and a pattern emerges that has little to do with the calendar. The listener, the traditionalist, the cheerleader and the protector all show up, stay close and treat the grandchildren as people worth investing in.
Grandparents born in other months can take heart. This is astrology for fun, and a grandparent who shows up with dinner, a story or a shoulder is doing the real work no matter what the birth certificate says.
However the calendar falls, the four types add up to the same wish list for any family: a grandparent who listens, shows up, cheers loudly and stays close.
Get stories like this by email. Sign up for Crafting Your Home.
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: Marie-Sophie Mejan – CC BY 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
