Grandma

The relationship of a grandma to her grandchild, regardless of what name she uses with her grandchild, offers wonderful opportunities and possibilities. If Grandma isn’t the main caretaker of a child, she can love without the necessity of correcting the child.  She can focus on the child’s positive characteristics and reinforce beneficial ones with smiles, words, or hugs. She can be a source of praise and compliments whenever they are appropriate. She can be a source of fun, attention, and approval. She need not be in competition with the other grandmother from the other side. Instead, she can be glad for the other woman’s love and contributions, and opportunities in the child’s life. The more people to love our grandchildren the better.

Grandmas can demonstrate constructive ways to handle life simply by being around. Without being told, children absorb what they observe about how others handle disappointments, frustrations, or pressures. While we may not always be the best model, we can at least keep in mind that the children observe our reactions, actions, and words as we encounter life. Let’s ask God to help us set good, constructive examples of making the best of life’s circumstances. If we have established a love relationship with our extended family, our actions may speak louder than words in a helpful way to creating some wonderful people who will carry on after us.