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What do you remember from your time with your grandparents? The relationship I had with my grandparents was not extremely close as they weren’t the hands on, get involved, or baby-sitting type. I do remember spending some time with them doing family activities such as exploring AZ ghost towns, rock collecting, and attending holiday gatherings.
A few things that I do remember are of items my grandparents had in their homes such as knickknacks or wall hangings. I was lucky enough to be able to select a few of those memorable items after their passing.
On most weekends, we would take a drive to my grandparent’s home for our Sunday visit, but we mostly played outside or with cousins while the grownups chatted or watched television. My grandparents were good people, however, I never really forged a strong bond with them.
My mom and dad, on the other hand, were very involved in the lives of my and my sibling’s children. Nana and Papa were the go-to grandparents and they helped us to raise our kids.
From witnessing the births of their grandchildren, to attending the grandchild’s achievement celebrations, to disciplining and sharing life guidance – Nana and Papa played an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. Our children received material things like presents (lots of presents) and money from their grandparents but I guarantee those things are not what they remember most.
According to my kids and nieces and nephews, the most memorable times were the simple, less hectic, or more intimate gatherings like trips to the lake, fishing, talking to truckers on the CB radio, camping, singing in the backyard, reciting nursery rhymes, and listening to Nana and Papa’s stories about life.
The simplicity and interaction, the hands-on involvement, and the “quality over quantity” concept enlightens me to what really matters. The moments and time spent with each other far outweigh any material gifts. This is the reason one of my favorite memes is “Collect Moments, Not Things”.
Sharing in activities, singing songs, passing on knowledge, and discovering things that bring out a child’s imagination were the gifts my parents gave to their grandchildren, and are the happy memories they think of today.
Following are 10 examples, that are sure to build life long memories with your grandchildren:
1. Singing
Teach them songs of old, songs you grew up with, and current popular songs. Sing in the car, sing during their bath times, sing as they are playing, and the best part is even if you have a terrible voice, the grandkids don’t notice! They think you are the best!
As our grandchildren grow older, they will think of us when they hear these songs, and say, “I remember singing this one with my Grandma”. To this day, we and our children, remember the song my mom would sing (in her not so perfect monotone voice) to get us out of bed every morning.
2. Reading Books and Telling Stories
Reading books aloud with our grandchildren helps them in so many ways, not just in stoking their imagination, but in enhancing their language and listening skills. Children who are read to in their earlier years are more likely to be avid readers themselves. Reading childhood favorites such as “Going on a Bear Hunt”, “Where the Wild Things Are”, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear”, “Puff the Magic Dragon”, or Dr. Seuss books can create an intimate bond and indelible memories.
3. Hands on involvement and interaction at places of learning and discovery
Children’s museums, zoos, nature preserves, and playgrounds are just a few of the wonderful places to make memories with our grandchildren. It’s even more special if the grandparent gets in on the fun!
Engaging in the exhibits at museums; discussing the zoo animals and their habitats; playing tag at the park; or even sliding down the slide and swinging on the swings can create fond memories of the special times spent together.
4. Sayings, Mottos, or Words of Wisdom
“Always do more than is expected of you” is a quote from General George Patton that my children remember from their childhood. as we tried to teach them to not just get by with minimal effort, but to do and give more. “CAN’T died when COULD was born” or “CAN’T died when my daddy went to school” were commonly heard from my dad when we or our children would bemoan about not being able to accomplish a task.
Another saying, that I taught my kids and now my grandkids, refers to my shock at how fast they are growing up. I would praise my son about an accomplishment, or his reaching another notch on the growth chart, but then I would act as if I was sad and sniffle a bit and my son would always say “don’t worry mom, I’ll always be your baby”. He knew this would always bring a smile to my face. My grandson also replies, “don’t worry gramma, I’ll always be your baby”.
5. Dabble in the Silly with pretend play, arts and crafts, and games
Tea parties, making dinner at the play kitchen, puppets, or building a garage out of Legos for the Hot Wheels cars, can fuel the imagination, especially if grandma uses silly voices or movements. Squirt gun painting, holiday crafts, coloring books, or making posters together can be a memory forward in later years.
A couple of the most fun and memorable games my grandchildren love are scavenger hunts inside and outside of our home, or panning for gold and sea shells in our sandbox. They love, love, love finding hidden treasures.
6. Let them help with chores or daily tasks
This one probably sounds strange, but my grandchildren love to help us do everything and we like to include them. From feeding the dogs to taking out the trash to watering the plants, or making breakfast, the grandkids like to be involved.
One of my favorite daily tasks is feeding the birds and when the grandkids are visiting, they know it is their job. We go out together and chat while we’re getting the birds fed and then we like to sit and wait and see who shows up. Quail, dove, cactus wren, sparrows, rock squirrels, chipmunks, and joyfully, the red cardinal visit our feeders, and the kids love to watch them. I’m betting they will look back and remember these special times together.
7. Teach them about God
If you are a person of faith or a believer, share your joy and the good news with your grandchildren through song, books, learning to pray, or church activities. I am a Christian and I love to relate the goodness and kindness of Jesus with my grandchildren. In a world that is dark and scary, the message of hope and forgiveness is a relief and calm to worried minds.
Teaching about gratitude, loving our neighbors, treating others as we want to be treated, and forgiving as we have been forgiven, provides a good spiritual, emotional, and moral foundation.
8. Traditions
Family traditions, customs, or beliefs can be passed down and remembered through generation after generation. The ritual of preparing certain foods for special occasions such as holidays or special family events can be a passed down tradition.
The annual cutting down of the Christmas tree, lighting the menorah, counting down with the advent calendar, attending Christmas Eve church services, annual preparation of tamales for Christmas Eve are examples of holiday traditions.
Weekly pizza night, game nights, yearly vacation trips to the cabin, sharing family recipes, special family quotes and storytelling, or watching and cheering on the home team, can help reinforce family connection, values, and provide a source of identity.
9. Family History, Heritage, Stories
Learning the history of our parents, grandparents, and ancestors can provide a sense of belonging and who we are. The history of the lives of our ancestors can teach our grandchildren about the challenges, hardships, and difficulties past family members experienced and how those family members overcame those hard times. This knowledge can provide the realization of being thankful for what we have today and inspiration to persevere through our own difficulties.
My dad told us many stories about how poor he was growing up. Dad and his brothers created many of their own childhood toys using common everyday household items. He told us of the strict discipline and punishment he received in his childhood.
Dad never made it to high school and he often reminisced about his joining the carpenter’s union fresh out of junior high school. Learning and working a trade was his path to success in life. We have also learned about our great grandparents and their life in the old west as they faced adversity and hardships, yet persevered without the comforts of life that we have today.
The successes, mistakes, and difficulties that our past family members endured teach about resilience, endurance, and faith. Passing on our history and heritage to our children and grandchildren can be a learning experience as well as keeping memories alive for generations to come.
10. Hugs, Tickles, Physical Affection
Kids (especially younger ones) love hugs, kisses, expressions of affection, tickle games, snuggles, and wrestling fun and we as grandparents do a lot of it! My husband will get on the floor and the grandkids will pile on and it looks and sounds like a free for all with laughter and screams.
We express little sayings or we recite nursery rhymes and act them out crawling up their arms like Itsy Bitsy Spider or grabbing toes like Little Piggy Went to Market. We watch movies or play on our tablets with the kids snuggled next to us, their legs crossed over onto ours, and their heads resting against us. Nothing compares to this feeling of love, comfort, and acceptance, and I know our grandchildren will look back and remember these precious moments.
What are your ideas or thoughts on making lasting memories with your grandchildren?
Hugs,
GrammaWarrior
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