Grandparenting

Spending a few days grand sitting – two girls, two dogs. I’m grateful for the time with them at this age since I wasn’t able to much when they were little. Maybe I missed a lot of the cute baby/toddler days, but tween years are pretty cool. Saturday was a busy day – mini golf, go carts, and “Despicable Me 4” movie.

These girls are so responsible and mature, it’s no work at all. As their other grandmother says, “They can do everything but drive!”

It’s funny to me how these young people love me…like before/without really knowing me. How does that happen? Then I remember how much I loved my grandmother. She was nearing 80 when I was born, but I spend significant time with her until her death when I was 14. I always felt her love for me and also knew of her love for her family, her Bible, and her church. Her house was also the place where lots of cousins gathered!

My mother was a wonderful grandmother to my children. Unlike me, she was a good cook. Although she died when they were still in elementary school, they, too, have significant memories. I remember how much she helped me. Now I am glad that I can be of help to my daughter.

One of my friends does Granny Camp each summer for her five grandchildren. They sleep over for five nights and have daily planned activities and outings. This year they even had Granny Camp t-shirts and water bottles! Such memories she is creating for them.

Since most extended families no longer live close by, time together has to be planned and intentional. And some seniors may have opportunity to grandparent a child or children not of their blood but by proximity.

Many of us worry about the kind of world our grandchildren will inherit. (Has every generation wondered that to some degree?) So we pray and do what we can to preserve what we value. And hope they will do a better job.