by G. Emma Ryder

Created on: September 12, 2009   Last Updated: September 13, 2009

Parents have so much to do for their children. Grandparents have a responsibility as well. Your children learn to care for their children as they go, remembering their own upbringing and trying to improve and surpass their own childhood. Sometimes, not knowing why things were done as they were done and the motivations behind some of our lessor triumphs, our children will decide to do things that are definitely not the way it was done before. Although different, we as grandparents must sit back and give an ear to listen to the mistakes and new age thinking about handling a situation, then when asked you must remain quiet about what you really think and let them find out for themselves.

Our role as grandparents should be to allow the gifts of our lives to help the next generation. Their sweet faces and questions always questions about everything, we have learned patience and have time to take each child and give them the sense of their specialness. We can take the time to nurture their talents and abilities. Cultivate their special skills and give them whatever guidance they need to grow and become that unique person that they are to become. Taking a child to a park where a performance by a group of musicians playing maybe one way to encourage them their interest in music. Taking them to the library to listen to the characters reading books and creating that curiosity towards learning and books. Going to the local pet shelter and volunteer to help pets gives the children some of their first experiences in their responsibilities in good stewardship. The example of our lives will allow the child to carry our message for this good earth on into the future.

Children who have this kind of stability, caring and loving group of people around them do not look for it from unknown sources, especially not from strangers, groups and gangs. Grandchildren learn from the family and the lack of it. Grandparents have no greater responsibility than to continue to help with the needs of their children, grandchildren and family. This kind of circle of care creates the security that we all need in the changing times we have all discovered. Generations of families must circle around each other and maintain the way of life that we have learn to appreciate and may have taken for granted but now must fight to keep.

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