Grandparenting is reliving the magic of falling in love, developing mind, nurturing and raising kids.  But this time, they are called grandchildren.  Grandparents are endowed with an audience to share all the things they feel passionate about, see the world in newer angles through the eyes of the young, experience once again nature at its best with the adorable grandchildren, listen to music, read stories, go gardening or to the theaters in conjunction with curious young minds.

Grandparents are second parents to their children’s children.  They readily provided expanded and unsolicited encouragement and support to their growing grandchildren, and make use of their own breadth of experience in doing things differently or just the same, like the first time they became parents.  Grandparenting is a blessing and a blissful opportunity to watch your very own grandchildren grow and develop into the fascinating stages of childhood to adolescence to youth and then to adulthood.  It serves as an invitation to grow and learn with them in their passions and their music and their tastes.  Grandparents, at the same time, can very well provide inputs that parents cannot.  Generally, grandpa and grandma are among the influential people in most children’s lives.

More often than not, grandparents bear the benefit of interacting with the young on a special level that is eliminated from the daily responsibilities of the parents.  This explains the strong unspoken bond between grandparents and grandchildren, and why most grandkids hide behind their grandparents back every time mom or dad is scolding them.  This is a clear indication that grandparents naturally are grandchildren’s shield and comfort against their parents’ acrimony in times of misbehaviors.  Children find it easier to create and establish a bond with their grandparents no matter how near or far they are from each other.  Grandparenting provides continuity in any grandchild’s life.  And grandparents are always the family’s historians, adding a rich and deeper sense of values and family tradition to grandchildren.  In addition, any form of constant contact or communication to grandparents instill the children a positive attitude and outlook towards aging and helps in enhancing their skills to lifelong learning.

What truly is the role of grandparents to a child’s life?  The answers to this are many and broad.  For others, grandparenting demands fulltime commitment, while for some, it may take a summer vacation together, an afternoon in the park, a weekend together, a phone call, a chat or exchange of emails. 

If you are one of the blessed grandparents in the world, rejoice and be thankful for the opportunity and the role.  Cherish the times you had and will have with your grandchildren.  And for the best times together, come up with activities that will bring out both yours and their interests.  You may create a deeper and more living relationship with your grandchildren by sharing with them the things you love and by letting them know you are around all the time, always available to hear their stories and ideas no matter how mundane they are.

Exert effort to spend some leisurely time with your grandchildren.  Or occasionally, spend some time with each of them to further develop a bond without competition.  You can invite them for a walk, or watch movie or eat out, see sights or play games or even take a trip all together.  Engage them in fruitful and fun activities.  You can even share with them your hobbies and games when you were their age, if you still remember what you used to be fond of back then.  Children are always captivated with stories.  Tell them a story about their parents when they were still young.  This way, you bond with them while at the same time incorporating their parents into your “moments” creating more essential connections.

No matter what your circumstances or situations are, being grandparents has always been a joyous journey and honor.  As you express your love, and concern for your grandchildren’s well-being and safety, you are already doing the best grandparenting plausible.