The role of grandparent can be one of the most rewarding roles in life. Grandparents can have many different roles in their children and grandchildren's lives. Some grandparents take an active role. They are there to offer support by attending school events, sporting events, and important church milestones.
My children have been blessed to be close to both sets of their grandparents. When my husband and I were a young married couple, we had some challenges that required us to lean on his parents for help. My husband was a student, and working full time, we had a son that was 17 months old, and I had just given birth to a sweet baby that was 7 weeks early. We needed help both physically and emotionally. We moved into my in-laws basement for a couple of years. I will never be able to pay back the love and help that I received from my in-laws, especially my mother-in-law, as I learned to care for 2 small children, one of whom had several special needs. I am so grateful for the time that we spent, and for the close relationship that my boys developed with their grandparents during this time.
Studies have shown that a strong relationship with grandparents has a positive effect on a child's acting out behaviors. I was blessed to live only a few blocks away from my dad's parents while I was growing up. I don't have a lot of memories from my childhood, that they are not a part of. There were many vacations, backyard BBQ's, birthday celebrations, Sunday dinners, and Christmas Eves that were made possible because of them. I remember as a young teenager, going through the struggle of not liking my parents, and feeling that they didn't understand me. I spent a lot of time talking to my grandma. She always listened to me, and made me feel like what I was saying was important. I felt like she was on my side. This relationship helped me to get through those tough teenage years.
Grandchildren can learn many things from their grandparents. One thing that they can learn is how to serve. Some grandparents may be older, and may need help from their extended family. Children can learn how to serve by helping them with chores, and taking care of them. I learned how to serve by watching the example of my grandparents. My grandpa could always be found helping someone in their yard, shoveling snow, mowing a lawn, or hanging Christmas lights. My grandma is still constantly serving. For many years, she made a birthday cake for every person in her ward on their birthday. She has a wonderful way of making people feel special.
Grandparents can do many other things. They can support children and grandchildren in their church accomplishments, such as baptisms or ordinations. They can also just spend time with their grandchildren, and have fun. My family has been very blessed to have wonderful grandparents, and even great-grandparents, in our lives.
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