Our children are blessed with two sets of grandparents and 2 great-grandmothers. Growing up with grandparents in your life is a great treasure.
I grew up with a grandmother who lived just 4 houses down the street. Mark grew up with a grandmother living in his home. While our children have never lived closer than 90 minutes away from my parents, they have spent their growing up years with Nana and Papa. It is a huge treat to go stay with Nana and Papa! Zack has affectionately nicknamed their home as "The Promise Land". Mark and I have joked over the years that it is Fantasy Island for the kids. Each child has had opportunities to go alone to Nana and Papa's. BIG DEAL. TRUST ME.
Being at Nana and Papa's means special treats like late (or no) bedtime, sleeping in the "big bed" with Nana, eating a million frozen strawberry bars, ordering Pizza King pizza, walking to the candy store, going to Jerry's for ice cream, walking down to Memaw's house, visiting Gigi at the nursing home, and the list goes on and on.
My mother used to worry that when the grandkids became teenagers they would not want to keep returning for visits. Reality is quite the contrary. Yes, all of the teen grandchildren still love to go to Nana & Papa's. Zack loves to begin his Christmas break and summer break at their house with a few days to totally chill out.
As the grandchildren grow up their relationship with my parents is strengthened. Zack loves to golf with my dad. Both Zack and Katie chat with my mom on Facebook. Yes, Nana has a facebook page and the teen grandchildren are teaching her how to use it!
I hope my children realize what a blessing it is to have 6 living grandparents in their lives. I hope they understand what a treasure it is to have such a close relationship with their Nana and Papa. My parents have been involved in my children's lives from the beginning. They were at the hospital on both Zack and Katie's birth days. They were in the hospital room as I progressed through labor. They were waiting in the room as Mark and I returned from surgery with our firstborn. They began cuddling and kissing him when he was less than an hour old. They were at the hospital again when I was in labor with Katie. My mom was even able to be present at Katie's birth. When the nurse asked her if she wanted to come into the operating room she had the scrubs on in record time! My parents were standing at the gate at the airport when we traveled home with Marco. I'll never forget walking off the plane and seeing them standing there waiting to meet their newest grandson. When we brought Gustavo home my parents brought Zack, Katie and Marco to the airport. They were all waiting at the closest point (literally) allowed by airport security. They were out of state when Ana Lucia came home and headed to our house practically as soon as they returned home. I remember they walked in the front door and couldn't wait to get their hands on her.
Nana and Papa have been there for grandparent days at school, sporting events, every birthday, Christmas, and many more important days in the lives of their grandchildren. With 9 grandchildren such involvement is a huge commitment. They love each grandchild as an individual and celebrate each one's uniqueness.
I am thrilled that my teenagers realize the importance of grandparents in their lives and haven't outgrown their love of spending time at The Promise Land/Fantasy Island.
Grandparents are a family's greatest treasure, the founders of a loving legacy, the greatest storytellers, the keepers of traditions that linger on in cherished memory. Grandparents are the family's strong foundation. Their very special love sets them apart. Through happiness and sorrow, through their special love and caring, grandparents keep a family close at heart.
~author unknown
1 comment:
The kids are blessed? WE are the most blessed of all! I've tried to describe the relationship to friends but there is not a word or phrase in my vocabulary that can describe what these grandchildren mean to us. And to think they still want to come here as teen-agers just blows our minds. Each one has his/her own place in our hearts that could never be replaced by another. We love them so very much.
So bring on the strawberry bars, diet coke, mountain dew, Pizza King pizza, late nights, stories of Miss Suzy, and even piling in the big bed all scrunched up with the little ones. It doesn't get any better than this!
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