On Being a Grandparent

One of the great joys in this season of my life is my grandchildren, granddaughters, to be exact. I have four of them, ranging in age from young adult down to middle school. Each one of them is a unique and amazing (not that I’m biased in any way) individual.

Besides being very proud of the girls and their accomplishments, being a grandmother brings with it other emotions. They are becoming adults in a world that seems to be in total chaos. I so hope this world – soon – becomes kinder and gentler to all its inhabitants, because our children are struggling to find their place in the rapidly changing dynamics of that world.

I worry about them. Every. Single. Day. The young adult who is finding her place as in a world that seems to have too few adults to look up to as mentors. The high school senior who is going into the military in a world where violence seems to be the norm rather than more isolated conflicts. The middle-schoolers who struggle, as most young teens struggle, trying to find themselves in a place world fragile psyches work hard to survive the situations that threaten to knock them down every day. And there’s not much I can do to help them as they work to find their place in this fast-paced world, except love them all, unconditionally, always and forever.

I worry, too, about their parents. Every. Single. Day. They face all these situations with their daughters, doing all they can to help them navigate their growth to adulthood. The parents know of the many pitfalls that surround the girls, and work diligently to move around and through those problems. My adult son gets his fair share of worry too as he navigates a world which seems to be increasingly selfish. And I often feel helpless, because there isn’t much I feel like I can do to help. Except love them, unconditionally, every single moment.

I’m pretty sure they all – children and grandchildren - know I love them fiercely and without judgment. We think that as our children become adults our need to worry about them will lessen. Wrong. Now we are concerned about our children and our grandchildren – twice the love too. I want them all to find joy in their lives, even when life seems to be out to get them. I want them to be the very best they can be, whatever they choose for their future and as they all continue the journey to and through adulthood. I continue the struggle to pray more than worry – a much better use of time for all of us. And when life swats them down, as happens to all of us, I want my granddaughters to know that they are, each one of them, remarkable young women with an amazing future in their hands. Isn’t that all that matters for all of us?