It's That Holiday Time of the Year Again, Grandparents.

Karen Best Wright, B.S., M.A, Holistic Health & Wellness Coach

www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

Holidays can bring joy and excitement into our lives or they can bring sadness, loneliness  and tears. I'm not even going to pretend to know which is more painful, to be young, lonely, and separated from family or to be a grandparent raising children pretending that everything is as we want it to be. Every situation is different. We may be "young" grandparents with the energy and money we need to make Christmas a wonderful time of the year. Or we may be "older" grandparents living on social security trying to raise children on a shoe string with health issues that come with getting older. 

But one thing I do know is when we focus on our blessings, we are happier. Sometimes that blessing is just knowing we are providing the safest and most loving home possible for a family child. What greater gift can we give a child than to keep them safe and loved? What greater gift can we give ourselves than to know we are making a difference in someone's life. 

No matter how big or small you celebrate the holidays, may you always remember and be grateful for the blessings you give these children and the blessings they bring into your life, even if that blessing is making you a stronger and more resilient person.

Do something this year that will help you and your grandchildren think about those whose lives are harder than yours. Bringing Joy to someone else, helps to bring Joy to our lives as well.

Karen Wright, grandmother raising a teenager