The majority of you spent the second quarter of your life breaking your backs to raise your own babies. Little did you know, that for unseen reasons, you'd be raising your kid's children, too. So just as soon as you became comfortable enough with not having any children in your house- you're given one or two more to raise. You'd lay down in the road and die for your grandbabies, but raising them wasn't exactly what you planned in mind.
Questions will arise. How can this happen? Am I too old to be raising kids? What did I do to not make my children want their babies?
Yet there will never be regret. Your unconditional love is so unmovable that regardless of how difficult, this is not a decision you regret making. You'll be so radiant with love to see them grow, mature, and become little adults. Over the next years, you will have to handle their fragile hearts, be an ear to the feeling of abandonment, and teach them what every soon-to-be adult needs to know.
The way you raise your grandkids will not be the same way that other children of that generation have been raised.
You'll be strict. You'll be so strict on them because you're scared. So many things have changed since you were a child and you only want to protect little eyes and ears. They'll be so angry at you because they couldn't go to a party that everyone was going to. They might spit nails at you, and they will be punished.
You'll make them work harder than they ever dreamed.
You'd love to spoil the mess out of them, however now you a responsible for coaching life lessons. You'll never let them go hungry or homeless however they will work for everything they have. The power of education will be pushed in full force as well as the value of every dollar. They will thank you later.
They won't understand your logic. Yet.
There are so many things you will have them do and they simply won't understand. Keeping their room clean, cleaning their car out, doing their own laundry, etc. These are all little things they will be angry and mumble about under their breathe. Again, they will thank you later.
You will be their best friend.
Regardless of all the small fights, arguments, and crying, your babies will still come to you with every fear and concern. They don't know what they'd do without you and your precious words of guidance. Long hugs during troubled times are essential.
So to all the grandmas and grandpas who raised their little ones; your work did not go unnoticed. You are cherished above all, you stood up when you didn't have you, you are loved.
"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies"
Mamaw and Pawpaw, thank you for raising me in my most tortured moments. I love you both deeper than the waters.
