GRANDPARENTING 101

 I am a Yaya to four grandchildren.  J-15 years old (flew by); C-9 years old (only granddaughter); A-6 years old (energetic boy); E-4 years old (more energetic brother)!!!!!!  We all live within an hour of each other which is a dream come true for Papa and me.  We watch E 2-3 days a week all day, and A - after school 2-3 days a week.  I think it keeps us young.  Anyway, we are still breathing.  We get to go to church with our older two grandchildren every other weekend so we feel extremely blessed. 

My intention for writing this blog is I love to write but mainly to share ideas with other grandparents, offer encouragement, and have a community with other grandparents.  We know that watching the little ones is our God given assignment for now.  Papa retired this year and I tease him and say he is my intern but with two little boys that don't give him a minute, I think I am the intern to him.  It works anyway.

I lead (volunteer) an exercise class for seniors three days a week (I am a total amateur) but they are not your typical seniors.  We lift weights (tone and build muscle) and do cardio (we live for endorphins) and also eat lunch together twice a month and do occasional field trips. They motivate me, inspire me and exercise gives me tons of energy to keep up with Thing 1 and Thing 2.  I also facilitate a Bible study one morning a week, going on 25 years in January.  All of that to say that Papa (my intern) helps me so much or this schedule wouldn't be possible.  I retired in 2021 to make it all work.  I knew I needed "time" more than money at this point (I'm not loaded by any means, but we always have enough).  He fills in so I can keep "my life" going.

Saying that to say one important that I have learned.  You have to have a good balance and have a life for yourself, some things just for you.  I told my daughters years ago that the best gift I could give them was to have my own life.  They are a big part of it for sure, but some things I need for myself.  I hope that doesn't sound selfish.  I don't want it to sound that way.  I just know that I am healthier when I have some things for myself.  I have a pretty well rounded life.  I am busy.  But I like to be busy.  Watching the little ones is challenging sometimes but I wouldn't trade it for the world.   

So that is my story.   I didn't always have all my grandchildren close.  My oldest two use to be 3 1/2 hrs away so we would have a week of Yaya Camp every summer.  We made it work.  Life is always changing and learning to be flexible has been a big help.  

So what is your story?  What things would you like to talk about?  We'll have a lot of this and that but hopefully we can encourage one another.  Until next post!  Have a good weekend!