Things Grandparents Know

Baby boomers seem gifted with perpetual youth; at least I think we are.

I also think we are people of passion.

From the moment the baby boomer generation arrived on this planet, we seemed to be bringing a different vision for society than had existed before in our parent’s day.

This sense of knowledge and of vision accounts for the incredible drive baby boomers have shown throughout their adult lives which have resulted in changes to society so profound that life as we know it today only faintly resembles how we lived in the 50s and 60s.

Baby Boomers – Stages of Life

Each stage of life has brought its own challenges to baby boomers.

As parents, baby boomers were committed to having a different kind of relationship with their children.

They were more hands on in a much greater way than generations before.

In a very real way, baby boomers parents sought to be both parent and best friends to their children. The outcome has not always been positive, I might add, lol.

As baby boomers moved out of the parenting role, at least in terms of having the kids at home, they had an opportunity to define what it meant to be a grandparent.

Becoming a Nana and granddad may be a bit difficult for a generation that has always fought getting older and resisted even adulthood, much less old age.

When I first found out I was going to be a grandparent, I remember thinking I was far too young.

However, if baby boomers embrace the concept of being the kindly and wise old grandparent, filling that role in the lives of their children and grandchildren, they can have an influence on another generation beyond them to pass along.

Children see Nana and granddad in a different light.

Naturally they love them (hopefully) and love the opportunity to visit their grandparents if for no other reason than they always have sweets and biscuits in the cupboard.

Listening to granddads stories or just enjoying his love and teasing is part of growing up that children cherish long into their adult years. And it is a time that even baby boomers can embrace and thoroughly enjoy.

There is a great book out there somewhere, named,

“If I knew being a grandparent was this much fun, I would have done it first.”

This amusing idea reflects the joy of being grandparents as fulfilling in ways that even surpass the important role baby boomers had as parents.

You might like this article, written by 8 years old and what their view is of Grandparents. Its priceless. 8 Yr Olds Write An Accurate Description of Grandparents.

Children seem to listen to their grandparents because they are wise and older and it gives them a sense of security to see that it’s possible to go through life successfully and still be full of life and fun even when older age is upon us.

That is why children intuitively know that there are things grandparents know that they want to learn while sat on granddads knee and they cherish the lessons they are taught.

It’s good when baby boomers embrace this new role. Just as when boomers embraced parenthood, they threw themselves into the challenge with a passion that changed the definition of parenting. Baby boomers can bring their passion, their sense of deep commitment and their love of family to the role of grandparent and give their grandchildren the gift of a wonderful Nana and Granddad

Look to your time with your grandkids as a time to pass along the wisdom that 50-60 years of life has given you.

While children need the guidance and knowledge of their parents, the role of teacher, disciplinarian and rule maker sometimes gets in the way. That is why grandchildren are open to hearing what Nana or Granddad has to say because the relationship is more clear-cut and they see their grandparents as fountains of wisdom.

A post away from marketing today, however, my target market is people of my generation and many of us are working online in marketing. So I thought, why not talk about being a grandparent, after all, its part of life in general.

Can you relate to todays post Things Grandparents Know? I would love to hear your thoughts so feel free to leave a comment below.