Your life has been adventurous, and much was gained and learned through the raising of your children. As they leave the house, you have been finally given the freedom to live life as you please again, charting the seven seas without pause to adventure in the sweet ripeness of being at the peak of your life. However, as the news comes to your doorstep of your first grandchild coming, things suddenly change. Having the presence of a grandchild in your life is something that should be cherished and kept very special to your heart. While most young people wouldn’t believe it, grandparents weren’t born with the ability to be a grandparent. It takes love and passion for your child and their children to be there for this new family that has sprouted from your own life.
When the grandchild comes, there will be a very distinct battle of claim between the parents and the newly created grandparents. The first thing to remember is that this is not your child as it was when you had them. This is something entirely different, and has to be approached differently as well. Not only should you let your child take care of their own, but you should focus more on the needs of the child than that of the grandchild. Face it, you will rarely get the opportunity to be around your grandchild every day of their lives, so it’s best to invest in the two parents that will.
Doing this will make a happier family between the three generations that have been created by your lineage. Douglas MacNeille, a South Carolina lawyer, kept this in mind when his son, Carsey, and his partner gave birth to his granddaughter. Instead of possessing over the grandchild, Douglas kept his eyes over his son, and helped him develop into the father that he will grow into being. This kind of mindset creates stronger ties between every member of the family, and allows the parenting of the new grandchild to be supportive and active.