Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Building Positive Memories with Grandchildren

www.raisingyourgrandchildren.com

We grandparents who are raising grandchildren have learned first hand that these children came to us with more than their share of hurtful memories. For children who are old enough and care to share what they remember, it can break one’s heart to listen. Other children may show their hurtful memories through their behavior. Even babies and tiny children who have no conscious recollection of their past will still be affected by their experiences.                        

Our job, or should I say privilege, is to help these children have new experiences and build new memories. It is so easy to focus on the negative when it glares us straight in the face. It can be quite blinding at times. If our hearts are dwelling on resentment, anger, and frustration that is what the children will feel. They will not be fooled. We may have justifiable reasons to have these feelings, but non-the less what thoughts and feelings we allow ourselves to focus on will be the spirit of our home.

Keeping in mind that we are building new memories not just for our grandchildren but for ourselves as well, will help us feel the love that surrounds us. Whatever our spiritual inclination may be, this is definitely the time to invoke that spirit of love to help our grandchildren build not just new memories, but positive memories that help them feel secure, loved, and worthy of accomplishing great things.

Simplifying life while raising grandchildren

www.raisingyourgrandchildren.com

Using the words “simplifying life” and “raising grandchildren” in the same sentence may seem like an oxymoron. You may actually laugh or perhaps even sneer with disbelief. When I first thought about the importance of taking these two ideas and weaving them into one very important concept for a better living situation, I first thought, “Yeah right, grandchildren complicate your life, not simplify it.” While that may certainly be a true statement, the longer we raise these three beautiful little tornadoes, I am convinced now more than ever that simplification is essential to our health and well-being as well as the sense of stability in our children.

                        

Most of the grandchildren living with grandparents left homes filled with chaos and uncertainty. Creating lives for them that are loving, predictable, and peaceful is essential in helping them learn to trust their new lives. Simplifying our lives as much as possible will help create a predictable peaceful environment.

I could write several pages on this one subject but will not at this time. After raising eight children of my own and now three more in my 50’s, I know first hand that it is very easy to accumulate TOO many things. We may also have a tendency to try to DO too many things to make up for the children’s neglected past.

Simplifying our lives will mean different things to different people. Our energy levels are different and our flare for design and style will differ. But as we get older and raise little children at the same time, simplifying becomes not merely a hot topic to read in the latest trendy magazines but a necessity for our own physical and mental health and a sense of stability in our children.