One of the weightiest decisions we make as Grandparents is where to walk with our Grandchildren. Sometimes we should hold their hand and walk with them, let them walk on their own, and sometimes we should carry them. These decisions are individual to many factors such as age, personality, geography, family dynamics, etc. There are no answers I can offer here to help you make the best decision for your Grandchild.
I will tell you that coming alongside my Grandchildren has enriched the entire family. I tell the kids, “You can’t give this stuff away. It is like a boomerang. Ain’t life Grand?
Now that they are teens, I often ask them. I am blessed to have fostered enough of a relationship with each of them to be candid and honest with each other about their world. This is an example of walking along right next to them. My job as Grandpa is not one of judgment but of kinship with each of them. I am honored to be in that position, but it didn’t just happen.
Thank You for being a Caring Grandparent.