Living with grandparents can be a lot of fun.
I enjoyed every minute of it, especially since I lived with them since I was 6-years-old. It is not the same as living with your parent. They are older and wiser in a way and have more life experience. I’ve learned a lot about them, myself and the world. I wouldn’t want to change it for anything.
1. I learned that the newspaper is actually interesting
Sure, reading online content is fun, but there is something satisfying about holding and reading a newspaper. And the Sunday paper had the best comics (and in color!).
2. I learned to be patient
Yes, I love my grandpa but oh my goodness does he like to go off on tangents. I could ask him who called and we could end up talking about his childhood best friend on the farm he grew up on.
3. To explain everything in detail
And by detail I mean how do I go from A to B? A.25 A.5 A.75 And then finally B.
4. You learn how you already somehow know something
How did we even learn to know some of the things we know? Were we just born with knowledge or did we learn it and suddenly I don’t remember?
Anyway, I have had to teach my grandparents how to do simple modern day tasks like, “How do I put this into spam?” “What is spam mail anyway?” “How did you think to Google this?”
5. Technology
When something doesn’t go right, they ask me or my sibling. “Why isn’t the TV working?” “How come my printer isn’t printing?” “Why can’t I hear this video?”
6. I have learned to pass it onto my brother
“Hey, Haiden can you come here and help me?” “Actually Grandpa, Aaron knows how to do it better than I do.” #Sorrynotsorry
7. Learn that planning is everything
My grandparents are in bed and asleep by 9:00. If I want to go out and do anything I need to ask 3-5 business days in advance.
8. Eating really early
We eat dinner about 5:30 every night and being a high school/ college student, I don’t go to bed until 2 A.M, so I snack at night (because who doesn’t). Which then gets me in trouble because I should be in bed by 10 P.M and wake up at 8 A.M. every day.
Sorry, no. I will not. Ever. Not if I don’t have to.
9. Learning to love the old things
50’s-80’s music was the best and I’ve recently gotten access to all of my grandpa’s records.
10. No phones
If we were caught being on our phone in my grandparents' presence, it was snatched out of our hands and taken away until the following day. Recently, it has just been no phones at dinner, but I used to hide my phone all the time when we were out so I wouldn’t get it taken away.
I really am thankful for living in a loving and caring home with my Grandparents, even if there were some weird rules that I had to follow.
Thanks for being an amazing family.
