The Importance of Grandparents

[SS MAYFLOAT]

The thread about the youngster getting a small outboard and his parents making him return it to the old guy got me thinking. It was once the grandparents that taught their grandkids many things from their lives. Certain traits and skills are being long forgotten because it seems that kids of today don't spend much time if any with their grandparents. I can understand why some of todays youths will bond with older adults that are of no relation. To me it is shamful that the few skumbags like pedifiles make parents very leary of letting children bond with strangers. Of course if the parents would take the time to meet their childs new adult friend could be very beneficial to both the child and parents as well.

I was very fortunate that my parents never divorced and was raised by them as well as my grandparents. My grandfather died when I was 11 in 1967, but I do remember many of the great times I spent with him. He had a small farm and never used a tractor. He only had a team of horses to do the work. From plowing the fields to put in crops and putting up hay in the barn, those horses were awesome to say the least. That is one experience I will never forget. Very few things were store bought as everything they needed was grown or made on the farm.

Sometimes I feel that I wish I could do more to teach my grandkids the things my grandparents taught me. However with todays trends, that is not possible. I did take them to the horse pulls at the county fair to let them witness the power that work horses can put forth.

My grandkids ask me about my parents and I do my best to tell them as much about them as possible.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

SS go ahead.....say it! Tell everyone how many grandkids you have (I bet you have more than most here) and you will have to be a FULL time teacher!!! You know I am jealous ....... I have 2

I too lost both of my grandfathers (one in '55 and I was too young to know or remember and the other in '64)........ I learned little from them.

My son's grandparents were never close due to all of my military travels/assignments but I am making up for it. My grandkids are 3 miles away and I spoil the crap out of them....... it's my job

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

grins thats why i bought a toon , i have 8 lololol

 

[southkogs]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

SS, thanks for reminding me how fortunate I am: My parents are still married (45 years I think, now). I can remember learning to fish with my Great Grandfather, learning to drive a bulldozer with one Grandfather, and talking for endless hours about painting and Great Lakes steamers with the other. My Grandmother is still alive (91 years old). My kids (two of them teenagers) have relationships with all of their grandparents including three Great Grandparents.

It's pretty amazing when you sit back and see the wealth of understanding and perspective that those relationships afford me and my kids.

Thanks again.

 

[Silk]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

Even stand in Grandparents can be a boon. I never had Grandparents growing up (lived too far away) but I had an older lady (70's) who lived on a horse farm that adopted me and nurtured my enthusiam for horses, she taught me so much. I am glad when she got me my first pony my parents didn't make me return it.

Similarly there was an older fishing guide that lived down the road from me, what my dad (who was away on ships alot) couldn't teach me about fishing, he did and he took me fishing with him regularly.

This was a different era and a differnt time, perhaps there were still the same number of Pervs out there, we just didn't hear about them on the news all the time (no cable), I don't know, but I am glad I had the opportunity to have "stand in" or surrogate grandparents.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

my grandfather passed away when i was 8. most devastating thing in my life at the time.

he used to take me on boats rides with the 1959 10hp on a big old SLOW LOL SLOW pontoon boat.


i replaced the deck on the pontoon boat and fixed the 10hp up. i'm now 16.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

grins thats why i bought a toon , i have 8 lololol

Uhhhhhh I do believe his grandkids number in the teens!!!!

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

OK Bob here is my list of my offsprings children. Oldest to the youngest and their children.

1. Daughter 3 Boys
2. Daughter 2 Girls
3. Daughter 1 Boy 3 Girls
4. Son 2 Boys 3 Girls

Total as of this date: 14

Some I don't get to see, but most I do get to spend time with. Ages range from 20 years old to 10 months. I think this is where the light will quit drawing them.

 

[relocyo]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

My grandfather passed away in may of this year, he used to take me to football games and fishing on the river in his tinny... I caught my very first fish with him as I still get teased by other family members to this day as in my youth I said "look I caught a floppy one!" I was pretty excited matter of fact the trailer let itself loose of the van on the ride home... Lol slow speed no damage. But whats ironic is his headstone arrived today from the VA (he was creamated) and the family will be enturring his ashes next week... Life long marine, solid mean ole sob but we loved him... The 21 gun salute and flag presentation left not a dry eye in the place... Thanks SS for this thread on a sorta special day for me...

 

[Stepen]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

I miss my Grandma more than I can say. Being the black sheep of the family, I did not have much of a family relationship with parents and sibs. But Grams was ALWAYS there for me. When I got old enough, I had her at my house with my kids as much as possible. She and our daughters spent many hours talking, knitting, weaving, and yes, she went fishing with her girls.
Once the kids were born, I was not who she wanted to see. She loved her great-grand daughters, and loved doing stuff with them. She lived to see our oldest graduate from High School.
She was in her 90's when the movie, Lord of the Rings came out. She said she had not been to a movie in something like 20 or 30 years, and would we take her to see it, and she would take us out for dinner afterwards. Remembering her, with her great grand daughters, eating pop-corn....

Gotta shut this down, my eye is bugging me. Starting to water....

Thanks for the thread!
Stephen

 

[ezmobee]

Re: The Importance of Grandparents

Sadly I did not know my paternal grandfather well as he was sickly when I was young. My maternal grandfather died when I was in college and was sickly for years before that although I do remember him well and certainly learned a thing or two from him. I had the greatest grandmothers in the world though. One is still living. My paternal grandmother was one of my best friends in high school. Summers I worked on the lawn crew at an apartment complex so I was regular first shift. However most of my friends worked retail or fast food, etc and usually worked evenings so I ended up doing lots of stuff with my grandmother. My maternal grandmother is still living (unfortunately my mom is not) and is a big part of our lives and my son's.