Grandparenting by Vanessa

Every adult has a different personality and shows their love, affection and interest in a different way. With that said I do think that every Grandparent should abide by these super important rules. Feel free to take notes! Look at me Miss Know it All

#1 Hugs & Kisses & Cuddles

Cuddles reading a book together, HUGE bear hugs as you see them for the first time in a while, big kisses on the cheeks. Physical affection is important. I had a very serious very manly very cowboyish Grandpa would isn’t like me who likes to gives big wet sloppy kisses on the lips and hug my kids to death. BUT all the pictures I look of him and I we are reading books together squished up tight, he is sitting as close as he can to us and boy those WELCOME HERE hugs they felt the best. Everyone is different with physical affection but it needs to be there.

#2 Spoiling

Sneaking cookies or candy so Mom can’t see. A special birthday cake. A new toy sitting on their bed. Playing WHATEVER they want for hours. Packages in the mail and special trips when they come to visit. And as the Mom I just get to zip it and let go and let the Grandparents do their very important spoiling business!

#3 Talking

I know my parents will cringe when I say this but…I remember talks with my Grandparents a lot more than with my parents. Their patience and how interested they were in you. Boy that felt good! And the advice they gave SOMETIMES I listened. I still remember my sister Sarah and I fighting like cats and dogs. My Mom would have it up to here and call her Mom who would talk to us. I could listen to Grandma but of course not my Mother. (sorry Mom) She wasn’t already frustrated with dealing with me and said everything in a soothing but firm voice. My Grandma is the one I would call late at night in Boston with my husband travelling almost the whole month long. She is the one who would talk to me for hours and hours and it made me feel so good.

#4 Telling Them How it IS and WILL Be

You know some of my good characteristics and things that are the most important to me are the things that my Grandparents INSISTED on. Oh yes you DO sing in church. And so help me you have good handwriting. And you say THANK YOU when someone does something nice for you. You stay away from evil things and don’t you dare watch bad movies. YES MAM! And thank you for having the spunk to tell me HOW IT IS AND WILL BE. That is ok for Grandparents to do to.

#5 Remember and MISS YOU

Do things that will help them remember you. They don’t have to be extravagant or cost a lot of money or drain all your energy for days and days. Are they going to remember how you always like to hold their hand as you go on walks? How you let them sit in your big old truck and honk the horn all you want? Or how you stayed up late with them reading them fairy tales every night you were in town? Give them all you have when you see them and then rest later. Guess what? Grandparent time IS kind of selfish time. Those kiddos deserve to soak in YOU and only YOU and tire you out so you sleep for 2 days straight when you finally get back home. No saying Grandma is tired or maybe later. Read those books, go on those walks, color with pudding and stay up late giggling. The time is going to go by so incredibly fast. It does for us as Mothers, I can’t imagine how fast it goes for Grandparents.

Oh goodness me look I am bawling, I miss my Grandparents. I wish they didn’t have to go so soon.

Boy my girls are lucky to have the perfect Grandparents on Earth, someday they will know how lucky they are.