A part of our earned wisdom informs us that it is just as important to consider how we impart our stories, experiences, and wisdom as what those stories, experiences, and words of wisdom are.
EFFECTIVENESS
(Playing To Their Strengths)
As Grandparents, we are poised to add something to the lives of our Grandchildren that no one else can. Our position offers us a chance to change the lives of our family members throughout the entire extended family. This is not hyperbole; this is destiny if we choose our path wisely. This is our chance to bring to life all those Hopes and Dreams about becoming the best Grandparents we decide to be. This is our chance to keep those Hopes and Dreams our Young Grandchildren have alive and help them keep them in sight through life's turbulence.
You are reading this in hopes of becoming and remaining a powerful force for good in your Grandchildren's lives. The fact that I separate becoming and remaining a powerful force is to emphasize that they are two separate tasks. Much of what you will read in this book concerns maintaining our relationships with our Grandchildren. This area of consideration is often overlooked but is essential to everything about being a Great Grandparent. To be most effective in this journey, we will be called upon to be constantly vigilant of all the forces happening in our Grandchildren's lives. This includes the sometimes complicated troops in the entire extended family.
These pages are intended to offer a glimpse of some of these forces. I apologize in advance that some are terribly messy and even ugly, but we would be derelict if we didn't consider all of them. This is, after all, an extended family we are talking about here, and very few of the members were of our choosing. The great news is that most Grandparent/Grandchild relationships are chugging right along nicely. That is not to say that even those do not need improvement and/or maintenance.
My research has uncovered many essential characteristics of the most effective Grandparents operating in the 21st century. Two that stand out are: Thoughtfulness and the use of the power of Hopes and Dreams. This book deals extensively with what I coined "Food for Thoughtfulness." This idea is the most nutritious food of all. This idea is the best chance of operating within a complex structure called extended family in such a way that allows us to maintain our Meaningful Lasting Connections to our Grandchildren through thick and thin.
Isn't it Great to be a Grandparent?
