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Add to FavoritesI just want to put out there that I'm not saying that EVERYONE's grandparents are a burden. From my experiences though, I honestly believe that mine was. My grandmother was an on again / off again grandmother. She'd feel to the need to take me every once in a while when I was younger, which was fine, but then there would also be some times where she would just rather have nothing to do with me. Now, she is in no way a bad grandmother when she wants something to do with me. But it all just depended on whether she wanted to be a grandmother that day or not. There were times when I would not see or hear from her for over 3 monthes! To me, when your a grandmother, you don't just pop in when you feel like it. Your a grandmother all the time, and your grandkids do eventually figure out that you'd rather be out doing other things than getting to know you, and and I know I always wondered why 'Nana didn't love me as much'. Now, at the age of 20, my grandmother always wonders why I really don't want that much to do with her. Well, I love my grandmother and all, but i'm not too fond of the fact that she would currently rather spend time with her boyfriend's family, than mine. It's currently my mom, my daughter, and I and we pretty much have no family besides her. But to tell you the truth, it feels like she isn't even apart of a this family. I hope other peoples grandparents aren't the same as mine, because there are certaintly times where I wish that I had a grandmother to do things with, but she kind of dug her own hole and she now has to live with it. Not that shes trying to change our relationship anyway. Ok, so maybe I'm a little bitter and biased to this question, but I'm stating from my point of view and experiences. When someone has a grandmother like mine, yes, they are a burden. And the fact that it hurts the kids more than the grandmother just blows my mind. It's sad knowing that you have family, but no one is actually really like a family member to you. Even on the day of my own father's death, my grandmother didn't stay around. She stopped by, gave me and my mother a hug, and then left... to go to her boyfriend's house. To me, that is a little disturbing and upsetting. Technically though, I can also agree that it is not a burden to have a grandparent as a friend, because my mother is a wonderful grandmother to my daughter. She would do anything for her, and spends loads of time with her. I just wish I had gotten the same treatment from my grandmother as my daughter gets from hers.
Learn more about this author, Denise Fike.
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Friend
Grandparents and elders in general are absolutely amazing and fantastic people. They have lived through a lot that we cannot even imagine. They have knowledge of things that we don't even think about anymore. Sit down with an elderly person for an afternoon, and you won't even imagine calling them a "burden". I understand that not all grandparents are like mine, but I also know that most grandparents love their grandchildren to pieces. Playing basketball at seventy years old just to please your grandkids. You've got to admit that's something. What about sewing up a hole in their grandson's jeans because he might get in trouble with his parents for ruining a new pair of pants? Have your grandparents ever snuck you a piece of candy before dinner? Unfortunately, grandparents age, like everyone else does. Sometimes they can't do everything they used to do, but you have to remember the love that they showed you and remind yourself that it is now your turn to love them back. Show them that you care and don't call them a burden. They cannot control the aging process anymore than the next person. It isn't their fault that they now need help with everyday things. Young people have to accept that and provide the help and love that they need. If they had the choice, I'm positive we would see our grandmas and grandpas jumping around and aiding us in things that we need help with, but the truth is they haven't a choice. My grandparents would give their life for me, even now, when they have more difficulty showing it, they still try. So now, it's my turn. It's my turn to talk to them, encourage them...that's what friends do. Although parents are great, someone had to take on the "parental" role in our lives, so that the grandparents could become the friends. Grandparents prove to be the best friends because they never leave you, and in their eyes, you are the best person in the world. Sometimes you need that little piece of encouragement. It's nice to know that you have someone to turn to even if all else went wrong. Because, no matter what others think about you, grandparents will be oblivious to all of the flaws and love you like no one else can. In conclusion, I encourage everybody that is lucky enough to have a grandma or grandpa today, to call them and tell them these three simple words. "I love you". Simple, but they will encrypt themselves in your grandparents' memories forever.
Learn more about this author, J.K Citrus.
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