Leave a Legacy of Love - Grandparenting

Few things in life are sweeter than spending time with grandchildren. Sure, like any children, they can wear you out, defy your sensibilities and create a mess in the living room faster than the speed of sound. But over all, grandchildren are the frosting on the cake and the twinkle in their grandparent's eye.

Having children was a wonderful experience for me. Now 50, I wish I could go back and change a few things here and there, but for the most part, I love being a mother. Now that my kids are grown however, there is a part of me that still yearns for that wonderful feeling of a child putting their arms around my neck and letting me know that I am loved. My granddaughter fills that yearning need for me. And for some unexplainable reason, I seem to be able to cherish it so much more now than I did when I was a young mother.

Perhaps it is part of getting on in years that make you appreciate each golden moment you have with them. Or maybe it is knowing that loving them is your only real responsibility. As a parent you have so many other things that enter the mix like constantly thinking about how your parenting skills are going to affect them in the long run, or having to carry on with life's other chores while attending to your child's physical, spiritual, mental and social needs. Parenting can be overwhelming.

But Grand-parenting is one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had. My granddaughter is still young, but I imagine that eventually I will be able to impart my years of experience and acquired wisdom with her when she gets her heart broken for the first time or when she is last to be picked for volleyball. I imagine that she and I will develop a bond based on unconditional love and sharing that isn't encumbered by the moments of frustrations that can come with actually living with family members.

It's funny to think about life as a grandparent. As a parent I was still young enough to feel immortal. Now I think about my health and work at taking care of myself because I want to be around to participate in my grand-children's lives for as long as possible.

My mom has been blessed with many great-grandchildren. Family, what a concept.