Grand-Parenting

We call our grand fathers many things like Gramps. Grand  Father, Poppa, Pops, Big Daddy and so on depending on the culture, language and esteem. Great Grand-fathers and even Great, Great grandfathers exist. Look at a German  granddaughter who gave her grandfather a gift (don't worry about the German).  Click here

Our children did not have the privilege of living near grandparents. This could have been a tragedy except for some local grandparents who adopted Laurie and Scott so they wouldn't miss that experience. They were so welcomed into our extended family. Hopefully, grand parents are welcome everywhere families exist, adopted or otherwise.

My Brother sent the short video above which is humorous showing how differing generations do coexist and there are so many opportunities, serious and humorous, for growing families, especially in our mobile societies. I visited my Grandmother when I was young who lived on the homestead farm hundreds of miles away. She lived then with her two bachelor sons and wasn't used to little ones getting into mischef and was mortified at times with her city slicked grandson. But grandpa was not alive so I never met him and my grandparents on my mother's side lived in Europe too far away at that time.

It wasn't long before I grew into manhood and one of the most rewarding sights was experiencing grandparents enjoying their little grandkids as well as a father playing with his children. Recently I read about Parents putting their kids on YouTube via home videos making a living out of having fun but also how it had its downside as it developed over the years. Vlogging meant well but like so many experiences that start out so well and then take a tumble. Maybe a mature, wise and savvy  ol' grannie and gramps need to interveen. Maybe?

Grand-parenting is changing. Grandparents are getting older now thanks to increasing longevity. Maybe more struggles between parents and grandparents than previously? How effective are grand-parenting laws, books, guides, classes and magazines? Did you hear about the 12 year old who had a baby who at 11 had a baby making a 23 year old grandmother (not in the US)? How does a broken family affect grandparents? How many kids have you “grand parented” that are not your own? Would you if needed?

Can relationships between parents and grandparents be hot, warm, chilly or frozen? Blessed are families where children, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, in laws and neighbors tread not on each other but on the same pathways together.