I’m in a rambling kind of mood today, so if you think I’m flitting here and there, you’re probably right! A string of fleeting thoughts flashed through my mind in a haphazard, happy kind of way this morning. Thoughts that fluttered around in my head like butterflies darting from flower to flower. Hey friends, thoughts can be anything you want, right? We are the creator of our own thoughts.
I’m up before the crack of dawn today … just me, God and my random thoughts! Annoying to be up so early really, because after all it IS the weekend and don’t most people get to sleep longer? Isn’t that the “done” thing, the expected Saturday sleep-in treat, especially for the {dare I say it} “oldies”? You know, those whose identity used to be referred to as moms and dads, but who through no fault of their own, are now permanently branded as grandparents, simply because their children chose to have offspring of their own. Funny when you think of it that way isn’t it? Mind you, I’m not complaining. I love being a grandparent … the older part that goes with it? Not so much .
BTW, if you’re scratching your head and you’re not getting the tongue-in-cheek-comment in the last paragraph, don’t worry yourself unduly. It doesn’t mean you’re crazy or confused {although that’s no proof you’re not}, it just means you haven’t achieved grandparent status yet!
With any luck your turn will come in the future, like mine did and like it did for our son, whose birthday it is today. Happy birthday David. GRANDPA David! Hehe! I’d laugh louder except the joke would be on me, because if he’s a grandfather, what does that make me? Grrrr…Grrrrrr…..spit it out Anthea! Just say it …. GREAT grandparent. {No worries – grand is good, great is better!! LOL}
So anyway! I heard a Mom admonishing her spoiled brat {oops – I mean child} in the supermarket the other day. “I brought you into this world and I can take you out!” she snapped, clearly on her last nerve, poor woman. The kid was in no danger, he wasn’t at all phased by the threat, and I’ll reserve judgment on her comment, but my immediate thought at the time was “No silly, don’t take him out, you’ll never be a Grandma. You’ll be eliminating a whole lot of joy in your future!”
If you’re a parent you identify with this mom and the challenges of rearing children. Parenting is a new learning experience every day. Hopefully, the kids learn from a parent, but certainly the parent learns something from their kids every day! We did! Kids are great teachers. We learned so much from our kids {blog for the future}, but I must say this …. you really haven’t experienced life in all its glory until you understand what it’s like to be a grandparent.
You know how your kids {especially the young adult variety} don’t think you know anything, right? Your perfect grandkids think you walk on water! Your kids take you for granted and are ho-hum-mildly-bored to see you? Your grandkids see you and run full speed at you with a knock-you-down-bear-hug! Your kids get impatient and roll their eyes at you because they’ve heard your stories before? The grandkids beg for more! Your kids interrupt you mid sentence because they think they already know what you’re going to say … before you say it? Really? Your grandkids pay full attention and hear every word.
Your kids dismiss your wisdom and advice with a shrug? Get this! Your grandkids seek it out and thank you for taking time to share your guidance. Getting your kids to help out is like pulling teeth? Your grandkids will do anything you ask – no grumbling – and they actually thank you for allowing them to help! Your kids think you’ve forgotten how to parent? Your grandkids love you because you don’t parent. After all, you’re GRAND remember? And later comes the GREAT!
I’m really chuckling now because life is so wonderful in so many crazy, beautiful ways! Even in the midst of generational disparity, there is order and continuity! And for each generation there’s a little payback too! What goes around comes around. Best of all, there is a deep understanding and enlightenment as each generation walks the path of their parent and grandparent before them.
Grandparents are the footsteps to the future generations.
Among the joy, love and satisfaction of raising a family, there are inevitable challenges, frustrations, struggles and at times, exasperation and desperation, but there are magnificent ongoing rewards derived from raising children into productive, purposeful, loving adults who contribute to society. No greater joy or blessing than that of your children and your children’s children and …. As the saying goes “Grandchildren are God’s gift to you for not killing your children!”
Thank you Almighty God for your treasured gifts of love.
Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6