My second beautiful granddaughter was born on March 27th. I went to Portland for a visit and her mom brought her to Arizona for my birthday weekend. I can't begin to describe the emotions I'm filled with when I am holding her or even just watching her sleep. My mind wanders....
This picture shows gramma and granddaughter looking up at the stars on one of my favorite windchimes. Makes me think about all I want for her. I want her to always be looking up, always looking at the stars and always knowing the wishes and the dreams she dares to hope for are hers simply because she was born.
As grandparents and parents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters we have an inherent responsibility to the children in our lives. We must provide them with safe, secure, peaceful and nurturing places for them to be encouraged and allowed to grow into the people they are meant to be.
I heard somewhere, "We should be the persons we want our children to be." Or, something like that. It really made me think. Is the way I treat people the way I want my children and grandchildren to treat people? Is the way I handle a perceived injustice the way I want them to react when they feel something is unfair? Are the words and the way I speak them the words I want to come out of their mouths? Are the choices I make in my everyday life choices I want them to make? Are the relationships with people I am involved with the types of relationships and people that I want them to have in their lives? The list can go on and on, i.e., food choices, clothes choices, housekeeping choices, music choices, etc.
Why is it that we want more for our children and grandchildren than we would have for ourselves? Why do we continue to not treat ourselves with the respect and love we have for our children and grandchildren? There is nothing in this world that I would not do for my children or grandchildren to make them feel happy, safe, comfortable, healthy, and worthy. Why do we not do all of that for ourselves? It goes back to the "we should be the persons we want our children to be" statement.
I started this blog with the idea that it would be upbeat and about a gramma's love for her granddaughters and it turned into something else. I wonder if the fact that I'm listening to the Casey Anthony trial in the background has anything to do with that. Probably. Bottom line is....We need to protect our children. They are amazing gifts given to us with the presumed understanding from God that we will keep them safe.
So, back to the gramma's love part of this blog. I never quite understood the familiar statement, "Being a gramma is great. I get to spoil the grandchildren and then send them home." First of all, I'd like to never send them home...lol. Second of all, I think my job is about more than spoiling. For me personally, it's about loving them unconditionally. It's about showing them the fun, light things in everyday. It's about teaching them why we should respect animals, people and things. It's about having fun no matter what outside turbulence may be surrounding them. It's about listening to their wonderful stories and encouraging their imaginations. It's about creating a safe and comfortable place for them in my presence. And, it's about my heart dancing every time I hear them say "Gramma Sandra".
That's about it. Remember your responsibilities to those children in your lives.
I can so relate to this blog entry Sandra. I do want so much more for my children and grandchildren than I ever hoped or wanted for myself. My only biological granddaughter lives clear across the country so I don't get to see her very often and your right, spoiling isn't what it is about. It is seeing them and not wanting to take your eyes off of them, touching them and cherishing that connection for every second and wishing they would never go home. Nice article.
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