If you are a regular reader you know that every week I do Thankful Thursday posts, and sometimes I mix them with one of the prompts from Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop (2 great things put together!).
This week when I read the writing prompts, one stuck out at me: What do your kids have that you always wanted when you were a kid?
At first I thought, “Hmmm…. what toys do they have that I wanted?” But really, I can’t think of too many toys I pined over… Yeah, I’m sure there are things I wanted that I didn’t get, but since nothing pops to my mind, I must not have wanted them too badly…
Just about as fast as that thought went through my mind, I thought of something my kids DO have that I would have liked to have: grandparents.
Let me be clear, I had grandparents at their age, but what I mean is the relationships my kids have with their grandparents.
By the time I was 2 I had already lost one grandfather. I never even knew my mom’s mother was still around until I was in 3rd or 4th grade, when SURPRISE! I found out she was in a nursing home and we went to visit her. She had had a stroke; it was impossible to understand anything she said; I only remember seeing her one or two times. (I’m sure there is a lot to that story I will never know, and it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized how that has affected me.)
On my dad’s side… We went to visit my grandparents every Sunday. The smell of the right pipe tobacco brings back so many memories for me. But I don’t remember them ever playing with us. Or really talking to us. I remember everyone watching Dallas. Sitting on the steps and drawing pictures with crayons that were stored in an old tobacco can and then hanging them on my grandpa’s bedroom door… He had the beginnings of Altzheimer’s then. They were both gone by the time I was in middle school.
That’s why I treasure the fact that my kids still have all 4 grandparents. Not only that, but that they have REAL relationships with them. Take for instance our Wacky Wednesday when both of my parents came up with clothing on backwards and mixed up shoes. My dad loves to take them for walks when he visits. My mom will sit and play Polly Pockets with my daughter.
We live right next door to my in-laws. The kids get to visit whenever they want. Papaw has taken them fishing. Mamaw sits and does Play-Doh with them. There are snuggles and giggles each and every visit.
I am so thankful that my kids will have these memories. I pray that they have many years of memories with their grandparents ahead.
Kristen @ The Preppy Girl in Pink says
I can say that I am very thankful for the relationship that my girls have with my parents. I know that if they don’t want to come to me, they will always go to my parents. That is a very comforting feeling.
OneMommy says
Knowing they have THAT kind of relationship with their grandparents has to be very comforting. 🙂
KAREN says
Hey great post, I have to start doing thankful thursdays too babe, Dino has lots of family which is great. I never really knew my mother’s parents.
I switched over to wordpress, if you are following me you have to update my url http://dinoheromommy.wordpress.com/
OneMommy says
Definitely rec. Thankful Thursday posts! (And if you do, link up!) 🙂
Off to check out your latest!
Allie says
I think I am going to tear up. I was close to my grandfather, sorta. He lived nearby and visited almost everyday. He wasn’t real fun but he was a jokester. I miss him. He passed before my kids were born. The other 3 grandparents were either deceased or we weren’t close.
I am sad because my kids don’t get that. My husbands parents lived in MI (we are in NorCA) but are gone now. When we did visit they just loved the kids to death. Doing whatever possible to have a relationship.
My parents are still alive but in SoCal and we see them maybe once a year. They aren’t fun but they are getting better at it.
In hind site I wish we lived near either set at any time. Grandparents are so vital for children in their lives. It’s just more unconditional love and not to mention spoiling at times. Your children are very fortunate.
I already tell my kids they aren’t allowed to move away. But I know deep down that is their decision. But I will always find a way to get to my grandchildren some day.
~Allie
OneMommy says
Oh, I know! Right now my daughter tells me she wants to live with us forever, and I nod my head and the thought sounds so nice at times… But she is just 4 and I know one day she will want out of here. Hopefully not too far away, like you said.
I’m glad your parents are trying to be more fun with the kids – do they get to talk on the phone or online much since they don’t get to see them often?
cindy says
I am thankful to have happy memories of visits with my grandparents that included lots of fun with cousins and an aunt who is only a year older than I am. I am also thankful that my children had a wonderful relationship with their paternal grandparents that totally made up for the lack of relationship with my parents:-) I am thankful to have strong relationships with my grandchildren and I’m thankful to see that they have good relationships with their paternal grandparents. I am thankful that they are blessed to have the great-grandparents still living and active in their lives as well. They are actually spending the weekend with the great-grandparents this weekend which is a blessing I think few people get to enjoy.
OneMommy says
Happy memories with grandparents – that is what I hope my children are getting. It is so awesome that your grandchildren also have their great-grandparents (whom I KNOW are awesome people!), that IS a blessing few get to enjoy now a days. I actually remember my great-grandmother visiting once – I remember wanting to be like her when I was older b/c she seemed so full of life.
NatteringNic says
When I read the part about Dallas and your grandparents I smiled as it reminded me of my grandparents. We lived 3 hours away so when we drove down Friday nights to spend the weekend, I could hear Dallas through the floorboards as I fell asleep. And we used my grandpa’s old tobacco cans as scoops to throw water over our heads to wash off the shampoo.
Having all 4 Grandparents is a wonderful gift indeed. 🙂
OneMommy says
LOL — I think it was an era! Dallas and tobacco cans!
My husband just said the same thing! 🙂
Robbie says
This is so sweet. We grew up living thousands of miles away from my grandparents and while we visited them twice a year I had a very different relationship with them than my cousins who lives in the same town.
OneMommy says
My sister and I talk about that…. Her family lives 12 hours away, and I know my parents wish they could see them more often.
Even just living a little over an hour away, my kids have a different relationship than their cousin whom my parents watch ever day. It’s interesting to see.
Rach says
I have a great relationship with my grandparents which is something that my husband really loved about my family since he only grew up with 1 grandparent and she was rather stern for a grandparent. Anyway, I am really excited for our kids because they will have amazing grandparents!
OneMommy says
Your kids will not only have great grandparents, but amazing parents as well from what I’ve seen!
OneMommy says
Thanks for stopping in! I’m glad to hear you were able to have such a close relationship with your grandparents… I watch my kids and it gives me great joy to see they have that.
Donna DM Yates says
A most precious thing to be thankful for.