Being a Grandparent is doing LIFE with whip cream and a cherry on top

I always say… being a grandparent is like icing on a cake or...whip cream with a cherry on top.

The day we became Mom- Mom and Pop- Pop was a day that forever changed our lives.

The hugs, snuggles and smiles melt my heart every time. Running towards me with arms open wide and the biggest smile on their face is the best medicine ever! I could be having the worst day, and those little faces change everything.

There is something incredibly special about the bond between grandparents and grandchildren, and it's so much deeper than the snack drawer and free babysitting.

One of the things I enjoy the most is when the little grandkids sleep over. To them, sleeping on the floor or in the big walk in closet are memories they will never forget. And oh ... I can't forget to mention the precious moments when the wee little ones pray their most precious prayers. with their child like faith, their payers surely reach heaven.

Talking to the teenagers about life is the best! Sometimes its about God and their relationship with Jesus, Other times it may be politics, or dating, sports, laughing around a good old rook game or just being plain down goofy with them. This creates bonding and closeness with your grandkids. Be someone they like to be around.

A study, published in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society, found the highest cognitive scores among older women who spent one day weekly babysitting their grandchildren.

However, a heavier schedule of babysitting five days or more each week was tied to reduced thought-processing speed and working-memory ability. Interesting for sure. There needs to be a good balance.

The life of a Mom Mom …. how I see it.

Missing them when I don’t see them - even if it’s just a few days.

Being ME with no inhibition’s, They just love you for who you are

Singing loudly and they are ok with it

Not getting enough of them

They actually think you are cool

Melting at the site of them

Heart to heart talks, even the teenagers

Seeing the world through their eyes.

They love your stories, over and over again. Especially the ones of their own parents

Did you know …

-Although grandkids (especially the young ones) can be mentally exhausting, spending time with them can actually boost your cognitive performance.

-Studies have shown that having a relationship with grandkids can add an average of five years to grandparents lives. I'll take that.

-A good relationship between grandparents and their young adult grandchildren can benefit the psychological health of both the grandparent and the grandkid.

-Caring for grandchildren can help with depression, boost social connections and keep older adults mentally sharp..

-Grandparents provide stability, safety, wisdom and fun.

-One study found that in families where grandparents regularly spent time with teenage grandchildren, the teens had lower rates of depression than teens who didn’t see their grandparents often

-They were known to have higher academic success, greater self-confidence and higher rates of competence and maturity

-Studies have found that children who are close to their grandparents have fewer emotional and behavioral problems, and are better able to cope with traumatic life events, like a divorce or bullying at school.

It's important to make each grandchild feel special. They are all different with different personalities so to nurture and cultivate a close relationship takes time and effort. And...so so worth it!

Our time, gifts, money, etc. are all of value but I believe even more importantly is ... influencing them with a Godly heritage. So as Grandparents we need to be intentional about creating opportunities to nurture faith during the years they are receptive to our influence.

There is also such a thing as "Burn out Grandparents" There is a happy balance here when taking care of your Grandkids and something we as Grandparents need to be aware of. We need to know when to say no and n to be a YES Grandma.

I love taking care of my Grandkids but I also want to have my own identity outside of the "Grandma' thing. That is not always easy but... it is necessary.

It's important that we find things or hobbies that we like to do and things that fulfill us as well. For me it's owning my own home based business. I can do as much or as little as I want and it also fills a need in me that gives me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

At the same time I am able to contribute to our "retirement nest egg" and enjoy the extra cash if I want. It's the best of both worlds.

Are you feeling burnout as a grandma? If so, let's chat. Vernsmoker.com

What are ways you spend with your Grandkids? How are you bonding and influencing them? Would love to hear your comment below.

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