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Practice the skill of grandparenting
DEAR EDITOR,
In life, there are at least three things over which we personally have little say, namely: when we are born, when we die, and when we become grandparents. Today, there are more grandparents than ever as people are living longer. Nevertheless, in the main, the art of grand-parenting has been lost.
With the continuing breakdown of families comes the changing role of a grandparent. Innumerable numbers of grandparents rarely see their grandchildren; while innumerable others have grandchildren living with them, and are their primary caregivers. Does anyone realise the weight of responsibility? Some of the most important people in the family are grandparents. The importance of grandparents is perhaps best expressed in Proverbs 17:6: “Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers”. Strangely enough training for grandparenthood begins in childhood. As children, we learn how to be grandparents from our grandparents. Grandparents are indeed role models for future grandparents.
Parents, although knowingly, it is not always easy, please make time for your children to spend time with their grandparents. Teach the children to respect their grandparents. The connection is vital for future generations.
Young people need to be encouraged, even by their parents – to seek grandparents’ company, experience and even advice. It is a wise young person who takes advantage of his grandparents’ knowledge. Grandparents you bring a wealth of wonderful resources for your grandchild/ grandchildren to enjoy. The most important and most valuable asset is your experience. Life is replete with so many lessons. A wise person it is who will learn from the experiences of others rather than make all the mistakes himself. Actually, these lessons need not be ones of amassing wealth or making business investments. They can be some of life’s simple yet often overlooked lesson.
In sharing yourself, you are giving your grandchildren your unique outlook on life, your ways, your memories, your skills and interest and most of all your love. As the grandchild grows and develops wider knowledge, this will become more and more significant.
There is an old African proverb, when an elderly person dies, a library burns down”. A grandparent is a bridge to another era. Family histories can be relived in stories from Granddad and Grandma – stories from the good old days. It is not always possible, especially in our complex modern world, but one blessing that grandparents can provide is the building of an inheritance to pass along, not only to their children, but their grandchildren as well.
Adults who have had a good relationship with their grandparents display an elevated self-respect, a greater chance of success in life, and a strong sense of family values. Children are natural observers and they learn powerful, lasting lessons from watching and listening to a grandparent who goes through life with dignity and selflessness, and who provides a strong sense of family. This relationship with your children and grandchildren is with those who will be the leaders of the next generation.
For many, as seniors we represent grandparents they may not have due to other circumstances. Our examples within our physical and spiritual families will impact the minds of children who will be the grandparents of tomorrow.
Yvonne Sam
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