Success With Grandchildren

I have a friend that claims the only reason he became a father is to eventually become a grandfather.

I don’t share that little bit of folk introspection.

I’d like to think that I’m a good grandfather because I love my children. I look at the grandkids as being extensions of them.

Isn’t that why it’s known as an extended family?

When I was much younger, and grandchildren still a distant possibility , I felt the need to be “the straw that stirred the smoothie.” *

I felt the need to be the household hero; always trying to balance the discipline and the fun. I admit to placing emphasis on the fun part.

As a grandparent, I’ve passed the baton to my kids at family gatherings. They’ve eagerly picked up the cudgels and taken over the role of champion; disciplining and entertaining.

For the first time in my parenting history, I allow myself to sit back, not only listening but actually hearing.

Oh, the delightful things I’ve been missing in all these years I’ve spent not being a grandfather.

No longer expected to carry the majority of the conversational weight, I’m able to enjoy and savor the verbal gems my grandchildren produce.

The things they say — I never heard my kids say clever things like my grandchildren. Too busy with life, regrettably; I must have listened but didn’t hear.

It’s ironic. The ability to hear my grandchildren and enjoy their delightful, innocent, brilliant, intelligent burble of conversation is accompanied by this damn ringing in my ears. I can listen but hardly hear what they have to say.

Overcoming obstacles and actually hearing your kids has different challenges at every age, I guess.

*When playing with the Yankees in 1977, Reggie Jackson referred to his contribution to the World Series-winning team as “the straw that stirs the drink.”

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