These bonds between a grandmother or father and grandchild go far beyond the generosity of gifts and treats and can benefit both the young and the old. These relationships often include an unconditional love and offer family continuity, support and understanding without any of the relationship challenges and expectations often carried by parents. Kids with close connections to their grandmothers and grandfathers are also more likely to feel that they have roots. Research reveals that they tend to have higher self-esteem, stronger social skills, are better able to withstand peer pressure and share similar values with their families.
Parents are often too tired or too busy thanks to heavy financial burdens or crowded workweeks to spend time visiting make-believe worlds or storytelling, but their own parents, who are more likely to be retired, can offer undivided attention and plenty of quality time. They can teach kids new skills, challenge them, shape their minds and morals and encourage them in their favorite sports. Kids are often more likely to confide in their grandmothers and grandfathers than they are to confide in their parents. This gives seniors a valuable opportunity to provide a listening ear, a friendly laugh, a compassionate shoulder and time-tested advice. Kids learn by example, and love freely given can be one of the best examples of all.
Molding the shape of your grandchildren’s lives can be among the most rewarding jobs you have. Kids do not have to be related by blood or genetics to benefit from your participation in their lives. Simply engaging in fun or supportive activities with a child on a regular basis can give him or her a powerful connection to the past and the future as well as a loving, supportive adult in his or her life. While you may have a lot to teach, you may find yourself learning new things, too.