Long Distance Grandchildren

Having grandchildren living far away can be very difficult. There are negatives and positives to this situation. Two emotional and spiritual ingredients of a vital connection between grandparent and grandchild are:

1. Time alone in a one-on-one situation, and undivided attention between the grandparents and grandchildren is difficult to achieve when grandparents and grandchildren live a long distance from one another.

2. Day to day contact. To make the bond flourish, grandparents and grandchildren need to be part of one another's daily life, especially in the child's early years. Living far apart, grandparent and grandchild don't come to know one another because there is little one-on-one contact, and little time for loving attention.

On the positive side, devise a plan to be together with your grandchildren as much as possible. When mom and dad go away on vacation, this will be time well spent for the grandparents to come and spend time with their grandchildren to bond. Set monies aside for those special moments like birthdays and holidays to travel to be with your grands.

Last but not least, exchange pictures. Children change quite often, request pictures of your grandchildren. Watch them grow as their parents' see them grow. Also set aside special times to make phone calls, to hear your grandchild's voice and they hear and get to know yours.

Rebuilding The Family

Now, more than ever, grandparents are raising their grandchildren. There are many children who's parent(s) have become victims of drugs, national disasters, and even death. Grandparents are taking on a new role. They have raised their children, and now they are stepping up to the plate to raise their grandchildren.

Grandparents are to be commended for keeping their families together. Grandparents are to be commended for raising their grandchildren, and not letting them be passed from foster home to foster home. The government must use these alternative providers in order to meet the need for rebuilding strong families.

My grandchildren are blessed to have their parents raise them. Thank God for the many grandparents who have stepped up to the plate in raising their grandchildren. If the opportunity presents itself... will you raise your grandchildren, or will your grandchildren be put through the system?

Grands...much alike

Our grandchildren are different, from the color of their eyes, to the the texture of their hair, to the color of their skin, and yet they are very much alike. Their smiles are different, yet they are very much alike. Their personalities are oh so different, and yet they are very much alike. Some have loud, boisterous voices, while some have soft quiet voices, and yet they are very much alike. Some of our grandchildren are full of energy like the ever ready bunny that keeps going, and going, and going. While others are calm and tranquil, and yet they are very much alike.

With so many differences between our grandchildren, the bottom line is, they are alike. No matter how different our grandchildren are, and believe me they are, the main thing they seek from us as grandparents, is love. And for that reason they are very much alike!

What Is Your Legacy?

In a recent Sunday school lesson we discussed leaving a heritage for our family. We as grandparents want what's best for our grandchildren, just as we did for our children. We have to leave a legacy for them. A legacy is somewhat of an inheritance. When we think of inheritance, the first thing we think of is money, property, or assets. But what priceless legacy can we leave our grandchildren...a spiritual one. Our children normally follow whatever example is set before them, be it good or bad. So the life that we portray plays a vital role, not just in our life, but in the lives of our children, and those to come after them. It tells us in the bible, Psa. 127:3 that children are an heritage of the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

How do we want our grandchildren to remember us? Do we want to be remembered as the grandparents who bought them every thing they wanted? Do you want to be remembered as the grandparents who always played with them? How about being remembered as the grandparents who fixed their owies? I choose to leave a spiritual legacy. I want to be remembered for all of the afore mentioned, but I'd prefer to be remembered as the grandmother who's Holy Ghost filled, saved by grace, and washed in His blood. I'm the grandmother who's on a Christian journey. How do you want to be remembered?

Grandmother Dearest

"Everytime A Child Is Born, A Grandparent Is Born Too" (gpfound@grandparenting.org)

I just love spending time with my grands. The joy of being grandparents! As grandparents we want to protect our grandchildren, just as we protected our children from the wicked ways of the world. Parents plant the seed in teaching them morals, ethics and spiritual beliefs. Grandparents have an extra quality that complement these teachings, it has a longer view of life.

My grandchildren are my heaven here on earth. When I'm away from them more than a day, they will call to tell me they miss me, and ask when are you coming home? When I'm sick, just to see their faces, and hear them say Maw-Maw are you okay? I'm praying for you. To hear them say Maw-Maw I love you and to give me a kiss each and everyday. Now do you see why they're my Heaven on Earth?