Parents Talking

I miss my own mother so much more now that I am a grandmother. I wonder how my mom felt seeing most of her children becoming parents too. It’s easy to love your grandchildren, because you see your own child in those beautiful eyes that smile back at you. I will read to my grandkids and let them roll out play dough, fingerpaint, make tents with sheets and blankets, have many picnics, take many trips to the beach (of course I have to travel from NV to CA), help them learn to cook and take nature walks to help them discover their world. I may not be walking too great, but I can still walk holding onto the stroller and that’s all I need. I am thrilled to be a grammy and be there for my kids with any advice and wisdom I can bring. For now, I have two grandchildren and I know many more to come. My kids are wonderful, loving parents and both really wish they could be home with their own babies. I think both parents truly understand all the sacrifices and trade offs you have to make when you work full time and have to leave your child. Fortunately, for both parents their mother in-laws are lucky enough to be the full time care giver. The costs for childcare are soaring and when I was a licensed daycare provider I kept my rates very low compared to what people are charging now. Life is hard for younger parents because financially, society expects two incomes. Back when we raised our children we made a firm decision not to expect to have much and so there were less expectations, less pressure to compare and compete. We were very happy in those early years, though we ended in divorce, it was a wonderful time watching our kids grow.  As a grandma I want to remind my kids to relax more and live in the moment. For my grandkids, I want to share with them  that each and every day life is a great adventure. Children remind you not to take life seriously and hugs and smiles can heal the world.