Grandparents, the Silver Years - Special things in Life

Silver Years - Special things in Life

 

The days are filled with special sweet tasting seconds, they range from laughter all the way to tears. As grandparents we often wonder, where did all the time go, where are all the years? Looking back into the rearview mirror, we could see the reflections of those special things in life. Even if it was just a passing moment, the price we paid was worth the ride.

Getting old is really a bargain for many grandparents, for it gives them back some value in their lives as well as their social needs. The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well together is the fact they have more in common and less fear from each other than any other enemy around, for their relationship has no rivals and has no stress to be found.

To grandparents and grandkids, money is no object. I doesn’t know the true value as before. For the change in my pocket I give to them almost daily, has given me million dollars’ worth of pleasure and joy. We hug them tightly each night as they go to sleep, a watchful eye over them we keep. Inside they know grandma or grandpa will be there, just in case the boogey man gives them a scare.

Each of us as grandparents are little boys and little girls inside. The fact that we were once young and energetic we cannot hide. Because we were once a little one, we know how important it is to have some fun. Perfect love does not come so easy these days, as the morning sun burns off the dewy haze. A child needs a grandparent around, so in the end, a little more love can be found.

A house needs more than a television to babysit the kids. It needs a human being with sensory feelings to bring out the essentials that life has to offer each and every child around. A television cannot give the child what it really needs, which is unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor and most importantly, something special made to put in their mouths.

Like the cookie grandma makes or the popsicle grandpa bought from the ice cream man, who knows for sure when he rings the bell on his slow moving truck, the group will stand there on curb, with money in hand and give him his best luck.

There are rare misunderstandings, for we accept each other the way we are; without question or lecture, there are no efforts to change behaviors or change bad habits but rather our lives depend on mutual trust and respect to help each other through good times and bad, until they are grown and have their own children. We may disagree but never fight so the end result turns out mostly right.

Being a grandparent means you are all in – no conditional betting, no reserve to pull out when the stakes are too high and the tension is thick. You can use all the wisdom and all the love you have to bring about their uncertain feelings and bridge any generation preceding us with love and understanding that builds a mutual trusting foundation as you stack each day with another brick.

Grandparent know and understand that there is still some responsibility left and taking care of them the best they know, is still a job but that they can also always be friends. It is true, when they enter the door, the discipline flies out the window but there are limits and limits are clear as both grandparents and grandchildren work hard on learning to share.