Let me say from the outset that I am an extremely Optimistic Grandparent. My 8 Grands and 2 Great Grands will tell you that Grandpa Neil is a Bliss Ninnie. I will cop to the charge of being a bit of a Pollyanna. Please don’t construe that to mean that I am not aware of reality In my 72 years, like the Farmers Insurance ad, I have seen a thing or two. In all families circumstances and tragedies happen. Some seem more horrific than others but they are tragedies all the same. Some things we can do something about and others, as excruciating as it is, as grandparents we must sit on our hands and zip our lip. I refer to this as silent support.
If there is one set of muscles in the grandparents bodies that get them in the most trouble it is surely the jaw muscles and vocal chords. I know. I know. You may ask how can I stand by and watch this happen to my son or daughter? There are times when you should and times when you shouldn’t. Experience has taught me that the more time you spend considering that decision the batter the outcome.
This is the ultimate Grandparent power. The power of wisdom. The power of trusting our kids to make their own decisions. Pleeeeeeease don’t, for one moment, think I am asking you to agree with or ignore some of the things our grown children do. No and No. I just suggest that you take a moment to consider what, if anything, you do next. I will repeat the most important question a grandparent can ask themselves…..”How much do you want to pay to be right?
Thank You for being a Caring Grandparent. Grandpa NEIL