Rewind: Grand (adjective): having more importance than others
As this post publishes, I am on my way home from four glorious (I’m sure) days spent with my children and grandchildren at beautiful Bear Lake. So it seems appropriate that I should select a rewind post that’s all about the joys of grandparenting. So, without further ado, here it is. This post was originally posted on 01/26/2016.
Surely, two of the most satisfying experiences in life must be those of being a grandchild or a grandparent.” » Donald A. Norberg
Larry and I have spent the last 10 days living with three of our grandchildren—two teenage boys and a 10-year-old girl. Talk about a change in life circumstance (more food to fix, more dishes to wash, more laundry, more garbage, more homework, and a lot more running)! Also, more smiles, more hugs, more laughter, more energy.
You’ve heard it said “If I’d have known grandchildren were this much fun, I’d have had them first.” If you can figure out a way to make it happen, I highly recommend it. Raising children is challenging, to say the least. Our relationships with our children and our parents are complicated. Relationships with our grandchildren are simple and joyful.
To become a grandparent is to enjoy one of the few pleasures in life for which the consequences have already been paid.” (Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com)
Grandchildren are the reward for doing the hard work of parenting and one of the few benefits of aging. No baby smells as sweet or feels as good in your arms as your own grand baby. No preschooler is as cute or as witty as your grandchild. And no other teenagers are as talented or as smart as your grandsons and daughters.
Of course, I can only speak of my own experience, but for me, there is no love in this world so perfect, so joyful, so uncomplicated as the love between grandparents and grandchildren. When I walk through the door, and the little ones call “Grandma” and come running, the sound is more beautiful than any symphony. Even a simple thing like one of the older one’s saying, “Hey Grams, how was work?” or sharing a funny YouTube video with me melts my heart.
Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends — and hardly ever our own grown children.” ~Ruth Goode
Whatever else I do with my future, I definitely want to spend time with my grandchildren. The thing is by the time I retire, they’ll be older–with friends, commitments, and priorities of their own. The oldest is 15 now, and the youngest is six. I can only hope that we have built the kind of relationships that keep them coming back. [As of this repost, the oldest is 18 and the youngest about to turn nine!]
And hey—we’re only about 10 years away from potential great grand babies. I wonder if they smell as sweet as grand babies?
Your turn
- Do you have grandchildren? If so, how many?
- When and where was your last vacation?
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Hi, Christie – I hope that you had an awesome time at Bear Lake. I look forward to seeing your photos. We are currently awaiting the Ferry to drop off our granddog at our son’s house. This summer we have had wonderful, extended visited with our grandson (3 years old), granddaughter (19 months) and our granddog. Your are absolutely right – grandparenting is simple, uncomplicated and joyous!
We had such a great time! Welcome back from your blogging break. It sounds like you were having a lovely time with family as well.
My children are still teenagers, and I’m relishing these last few years with them at home. I so look forward to the day I’m a grandparent. I can only imagine the joy. #MLSTL
If you’re able to relish the teenage years, you must be doing something right! 🙂 Grandparenting really is the best thing ever.
I can’t wait to have grandchildren … but alas none yet. I have twin boys aged 25 both still living at home, and a daughter aged 23 who moved out just after her 21st birthday. None are married. My last holiday (vacation) was a beach holiday at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast here in Queensland, Australia. 2 weeks of relaxation back in February. I feel the need to get away again – even if just for a weekend! 🙂
Your holiday sounds lovely. I’m not familiar with Mooloolaba, but I love the beach, and I definitely want to visit Australia once I retire.
I never knew how wonderful and special being a grandparent could be…until I became one! I’m Nana to 4 precious kids and I love them all so much. It’s a long distance love, as they are all about 1100 miles away from where I live. But I visit as often as I can, and they all know me pretty well considering the distance. And, they’ll all be coming to see Nana in a couple of months…can’t wait!
It’s impossible to describe the wonders of having grandchildren. You have to experience it for yourself. I’m happy for you that you have been able to maintain a loving long-distance relationship with your grandchildren. Enjoy your visit! I know you will.
Christie I loved this: “Our relationships with our children and our parents are complicated. Relationships with our grandchildren are simple and joyful.” it’s so true – our little granddaughter is only 2 but she brings such joy and love with her. We are bulletproof in her eyes and that does my heart so much good. I’m not sure my children ever gave me such unconditional love (they probably did but I was just too tired to appreciate it at the time! By the time I got some sleep and sanity they’d moved on to the next stage!)
Loved your post and I couldn’t agree with you more – and so lovely you had more time with them last week xx
#MLSTL 🙂
It’s so true, Leanne. With my own children, I was so worried about whether I was doing things right (or messing them up for life). Then, of course, there’s the need to discipline. I know there were moments of exquisite joy, but also much exhaustion and worry. With grandchildren, it’s all of the good parts of loving and nurturing and teaching without the weight of parenting.
Hi Christie, I couldn’t agree more. How lovely for you to have had such a special time with your family. I have two grandsons on my side, Ethan and Elliot (9 weeks old yesterday) and they bring such joy to my life. I couldn’t imagine the depth of love that we feel towards our grandchild. I am also fortunate to have a granddaughter and two grandsons on my husband’s side who also love their Nanna Sue and the birthday cakes I make for them. Thank you for expressing what all of us as grandparents think and feel. It is lovely to have you join us at #MLSTL and have a beautiful week. xx
We have a blended family as well. Larry and I were married before the grandchildren came along, so it’s wonderful that we have known each of them since birth and they have always known us as Papa and Grandma.Thank you for #MLSTL and enjoy your week!
Christie, I can tell you great grandbabies are awesome. I always say there is nothing like grandchildren I have eight and two great-grandsons.
Two great-grandsons! That’s amazing. Sometimes my husband and I bemoan the fact that we don’t have any more babies in the family (our youngest is turning 9 soon), but I forget we have great-grandchildren to look forward to down the line.
I feel as though we lived parallel lives this past week 🙂 I also spent five days with our 3 children, their spouses and 2 grandchildren at a friend’s lake house in the Ozarks. I’m afraid I did not gravitate to grandmotherhood as quickly as you (I wasn’t ready to be a grandma at the “young” age of 51) but the idea is growing on me now. I love the definition you gave for grand … I think I will put that on my refrigerator.
Sometimes the picture we hold in our heads of grandmothers is not an accurate depiction of today’s grandmothers, so the word can be a little shocking–not to mention the impact of realizing that our children really are adults starting their own families. I wasn’t yet 40 when my first grandchild was born. That seems crazy to me now. I know when I see a 40-year-old, grandma certainly isn’t the first thought that pops into my head!
Hi Christie, great timing with your lovely post. We’ve got just four weeks to go until our first grandbaby arrives and we’re so excited 🙂
Congratulations Debbie! I’m excited for you!
Fun read….well, we live on vacation (we’re retired…LOL) As to grandkids, well, we were widowed when we met and both came from 20+year blended marriages. So LOTS of kids (11 – 9 living), means LOTS of grandkids (25) and the latest count for great-grandkids is ten!
#MLSTL visitor (shared on SM)
I’m jealous about your full-time vacation status, Donna! And how fun to have so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Aren’t they just the best?
You are such a good grandma Christie, and I think you know how much I love my grandchildren and being a grandma. I hadn’t realized I would feel so fiercely proud and protective of them as I did with my own children.
I loved the quote about nothing being more rewarding then being a grandparent or a grandchild-that started me thinking about my grandparents. They are all gone now but I have fond memories with each of them and truly miss them. I’m grateful I was able to know them and have relationships with them while they were here.
Ah, thank you Cindy. I’m happy we get to be grandmothers together. We are pretty lucky to have had such loving grandparents as role models. I miss them too.
No grandchildren for me yet Christie, but we just spent 4 days with nieces and nephew and many of the things you wrote about were true for us too. We especially enjoyed our 4 1/2 year old niece, who it seemed had eyes full of wonder about everything, even mundane things like hand cream (“can I have some?”) and telling jokes (so not funny they were hilarious). Her lack of guile was very endearing (“how did you get to be so old?”) lol.
Also visiting from #BloggersPitStop xx
Four-five is a fun age. As you pointed out, everything is wonderful, and they are typically so un-self-conscious and truly in the moment. I’m glad you had fun. Thanks for stopping by.
I loved your quotations in this post, and I can’t wait to have grandchildren for all the reasons you mention!
When the time comes, I know you’ll love it Jo!
Christie
You said it!! There’s no other love like it. Grand kids rock.
I remember the special feelings I had for my grandmother. She was dear to all of us kids. She smelled good to.
I missed this post the first time around so I’m glad it was grandfathered in.
Laura
I have special memories of my grandmothers as well, Laura. And my grandpas too!
I know you all had a wonderful time together. We just spent about 6 weeks with ours at the beach house and every moment was cherished. It sure is a satisfying experience of having the wonderful opportunity to be a grandparent. I had to laugh, my husband says this all the time – “If I’d have known grandchildren were this much fun, I’d have had them first.” Those who don’t have grandbabies just don’t know what they’re missing. I didn’t until I became a Grammy! Oh and the first time you hear them call you by your Grammy name, nothing could be sweeter! Grandbabies are a joy and a blessing and I’m sure great-grandbabies will be the same! Shared x 4 ♥
I second everything you just said. I’m so happy for you that you were able to spend six whole weeks together. That’s amazing!