GRANDPARENTS JUST KNOW

                             
                                                             by Jim Martin/euronitram54@gmail.com

    A good friend of mine once told me there is no way to explain how it "feels" to be a Grandparent before actually having the honor of becoming one. He was absolutely correct. And now, I cannot describe that "feeling" either. But Grandparents can write and talk about the instances and situations that create laughter, proud moments and great loving memories for eternity.
  But there is a unique aspect of "Grand" parenting which was never experienced as a Parent. Let's just call it "Been there --Done that" !
This can be utilized as a positive for Grandparents and their interactions with their own children as long as they only share their experience---"if asked". Who is to say that "we" did everything right as Parents because we did not. Our children learned to Parent  from us and naturally are striving to improve and be the best Parents possible.
  So, being a good Grandparent is loving on your Grandchildren, being positive with them and supporting your own children (their Parents) when decisions have to be made. Grandchildren have a tendency to think asking a grandparent is stepping up to a higher level to get a more desired answer or permission. It is not. The Buck stops with the Parent. Young children are smarter than you think. They will ask their Mother, then  their father, and then to what they think is the Supreme Court of Grandparents. But they learn quickly once you support their Parents and let them know how lucky they are to have their Parents and what a "JOY" it was being the Parents of your Children.
  But Grandparents have a certain edge after having "Been There-Done That". You see--we are not quite as busy-we yearn for those years of special moments and tend to have a mind less cluttered with everyday pressures and busy schedules. Having seen games, plays and such, we realize that "every" one of these is special and will never be repeated at their age. As parents, we had so many to go to that maybe we were not as finely tuned because we had many more that month to attend. But , Grandparents don't see ALL of them and we only have memories of those long gone happenings with our Children.
  So, while sitting at events with our Grandchildren and soaking in every second as if it was our last seconds on Earth , we glance over at our Children as Parents now-- with proud looks on their faces. That's "real" living !! "Grandparents just know" !

by Jim Martin