Grandpas involved

Both Tom's and my dad are products of the 50's-60's generation where the mother does all the work -- ALL the work from kids to cooking to cleaning. My mom sometimes will openly say, "Yeah, Daddy wasn't really involved" to which my dad had no defense. Tom's dad apparently didn't participate in any of the discipline even though both Tom and I have memories of our dads doing leisurely things with us whether biking or playing ball or fixing cars.

So it's surprising to me to see them take any interest in the raising of our kids, their grandkids. Not that they wouldn't love them or want to play with them; that we hoped and expected. But to see Tom's dad quite protective and concerned about safety for Tobey ("Is he too hot at night?") or the baby ("Maybe you should put him off to the side"). Tom remarked yesterday that he didn't think his dad was that concerned with him and Dennis. And whenever my dad talks about zhuo-yue-zhi (1-month post-partum), I am utterly confused -- since when was he interested in the post-partum care of a new mom? I can understand my mom telling me to stay off my feet but when my dad says it, I take it as he's just repeating what my mom says or he's just rattling off something he studied or read about Chinese customs because not only could he not possibly know first hand about post-partum issues, my impression is that he didn't even pay that much attention to post-partum issues when my mom was having us.

I should be happy about their involvement beyond just playing with the kids but, being usually not that great with criticism or advice from parents, I am just confused as to why they are so interested now.