I’d like to share an article written by Theresa Civantos Barber for Aletheia24h. It reminds us of how important it is to spend time with the elderly, especially grandparents. The article touched me deeply as I have been isolated from my grandchildren going on 8 years. I know that what little time I spent with them, holds deep memories for me that I will take to eternity. I just hope I left them something to remember their nana with.
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As we bustled around the house cleaning up and getting ready, I heard one of my kids say, “It’s like the queen is coming to visit us!”
Yes, in a way—the queen of our family, my kids call her. My elderly grandmother was coming for a rare visit, and we were busy pulling out all the stops to make sure she felt comfortable and welcomed.
“That’s right,” I smiled. “Let’s treat her like a queen. While Grandma is here, we won’t do school or chores; we’ll drop everything else to spend time with her and soak up her visit.”
My four young children always have so much fun when we get to see my grandmother, and we look forward to her visits so much. It got me thinking how good it is for them to spend time with someone so much older than they are.
These are 3 of the reasons I love it when my children get to spend time with my grandma and other elderly relatives.
1. They learn to respect and value the elderly.
Pope Francis has spoken out again and again about the importance of respecting and appreciating elderly people.
“Where there is no honor for the elderly, there is no future for the young,” he has said.
By doing everything we can to honor and welcome my grandmother, my children are learning a valuable lesson that I hope they will carry with them always.
2. They enjoy friendships with people who are different from them
My children love to hear stories about my grandmother’s childhood, especially funny stories or stories about times she got into mischief!
They also love to play board games with her, and recently my son felt like a champion when he beat her at chess for the first time ever after years of trying.
By having fun with my grandma and enjoying her company, my kids are learning that they can be friends with anyone, of any age.
3. They get to bask in her unconditional love.
My kids always seem so relaxed and calm around my grandmother. This is not their usual mode of being, to put it mildly.
One time I asked them why she has that effect on them. “She doesn’t tell us what to do. She just likes being with us,” they said. In other words, she just enjoys being around them, and thinks their silly antics are cute and funny.
I was so moved. My kids are very young, but clearly, they could sense her unconditional love for them. What a beautiful gift, at any age, to get to feel this kind of love she gives them!
My grandma thanks me for our visits, but I believe my kids and I are the ones who benefit the most from the gift of her time and presence. We love her so much, and I am deeply grateful my kids get to have this wonderful relationship with her.
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Today, we are losing focus on what the family is all about and how important grandparents are. I miss my grandchildren very much. I miss my grandchildren very much.
We should remind ourselves every day that without grandparents we would lack our roots.
With their marginalization, an inclusive, participatory, dynamic community model dies. Without them entire towns disappear, places of social gathering are emptied, emotional memory is lost. We need grandparents for there to be a future, we need strong roots for strong trees to grow. The vocation of grandparents is to look after the roots. Today more than ever young people need a journey back in time that makes us reflect on the rapid changes that the world has seen in the space of half a century.
Wise words and moral teachings never go out of style and they belong to all the grandmothers and grandfathers of the world who love their grandchildren.
Thank you Aldo for commenting on my piece. I am grateful you took the time. I often take time to read others comments, especially those who comment on the ones I write. I hope some day my grandchildren will find it on their hearts to want to discover their roots through what I write. God bless and please forward me any articles you write just incase I may miss them..
Great reminder of the value of having and being grandparents.
Thank you Mike for taking the time to read and comment on my article
All family generations (especially the young ones) really need “the up close ” hand-me down personal history from the grandparents who can provide it for the young inquiring minds. What a wealth of wisdom coupled with practical experience wrapped in memories of days long past. Triumphs and tragedies provide a basis from where the family parade came from with a sense of direction to follow. Granny’s as well as Grandpa’s know best!
You are correct that family generations are full of history and wisdom. I appreciate your comment