A Note on Grandparents
Predictably, they got up, put him in their bed and proceeded to drench him with that distinctly sweet and charming grandparent love.
On their last day in Dalian, my parents fretted over their departure. They worried Buchela will forget them and they would have to reacquaint yet again during another visit.
Yesterday, the little guy got up and went straight to the guest bedroom.
He knocked, got on his tippy toes, opened the door, and pushed it.
He looked straight at the bed. A look of confusion slowly crept onto his face as he slowly scanned the empty room. He walked over and stood in front of their bed. He looked around once again. Then, he turned and ran into my arms.
Young children's memories may be short term but they are made. Sure, they may not be recalled in adulthood, but I believe they leave an impression, an emotional imprint.
I was very close to my grandparents. My love for them was very different from the one I felt for my parents. It was uncomplicated and easy.
I am incredibly grateful that my son was able to spend such a close time with my parents. I hope their bond continues to grow. I believe a good and close relationship with grandparents is a part of a a happy childhood.
Living continents apart makes coming together really difficult. But I hope I can continue to afford the time and the money to create situations where he can have plenty of togetherness with all four grandparents.
After all, his father and I are just his parents.
We could never give him the goodness that is grandparent love.
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Questions for you guys: For everyone, were you (are you) close to your grandparents? For parents, are your kids close to their grandparents? Do you want them to be? Do you actively work at creating situations where they can spend time with them?
Just wondering how everyone felt.
my Aunt's Mother in Law. But my little ones have three grandmas :) and one grandpa and I can see the bond they have with them is amazing. We try to let them spend as much time as we can with them when ever
possible.
My grandparents lived many hours away from us so we didnt see much of them :(
I remember my maternal grandfathers little house
I remember my paternatal grandfather more - his bear hugs that would squish me LOL
him sitting in his chair at his house
and how much taller and bigger he was than my little short grandmother
we didnt see much of them especially as my mother didnt get on with my grandmother
My daughter lives with my parents (all of them are estranged from me due to lots of aweful reasons)
they particularly my mother has never cared at all about my older son and they have never met my younger son
My older son has a wonderful relationship with his caring supportive paternal grandfather
my younger son sees his grandparents very regularly as they live close and he adores them and they adore him
However, my sister has worked very hard to ensure her children know and bond with both sets. Including weekly telephone calls to grandparents starting at about 18 months old and putting together a family storybook that includes pictures of grandparents, aunts, unclues, cousins and so on. They would page through the book at bedtime and say "Here is grandma" and "this is Uncle Tom" and so on.
It definitely had a positive impact.
TN, I still remember so many things about my grandparents too. They are always comforting memories.
Bozo, living in different continents puts a damper on the whole thing, doesn't it?
Nerdgirl, Dee, Good for you that your kids are close to their grandparents
Susan, Julie hopefully, your kids will be close to your parents:)
Monica, awww... how sweet that you still are able to feel her presence!
Global Liberian, I must adopt the same method as your sister. It is really important to me that my children know their heritage and extended family, grandparents and beyond
Jen, I hope you and your parents reconcile at some point... thanks for your comment. It made me think about the fact that what I was advocating is sometimes just not possible.
My kids have a wonderful relationship with my parents. My parents didn't know how to be parents but they are great grandparents. Living in different continents complicates things a bit and I know I haven't given their relationship such a high priority but seeing my kids with my parents this summer has made me realize how important it is to all 4 of them, so from now on it's going to be my nr 1 priority.
Unfortunately my kids are not very close to their parental grandparents. That was one of the reasons we moved here, my husband and I wanted the kids to know their family on his side, but they don't seem too interested in spending time with our kids. I think it's because my kids are different, not really Moroccan, and being raised with a different culture. I try to have my kids meet their grandparents at least twice a month, because it's important to me and I know it will be to them too when they get older.