THE CAST Honey Good, Grandmother Skylar, Granddaughter THE QUESTION What course of action should a grandmother take to teach her young adult granddaughter a valuable life lesson? THE PROBLEM My granddaughter’s inaction. There are two schools of thought on how much emotional involvement grandparents should play in their grandchildren’s personal lives. Some grandmothers feel it is their obligation to speak out when they disapprove of a grand’s action. Other grandmothers feel it is their obligation to always come from love and keep the peace at all costs, while letting the parents handle problems that arise. I am a grandmother who teaches her grands valuable lessons stretching across a broad range of topics, but I am not known as a grandmother who dishes out disciplinary actions. Recently, I have somewhat changed my tune because I think it is my obligation to speak up when I feel something needs to be said, rather than fearing the disruption of our relationship. After my heart-felt discussion with my granddaughter, Skylar, I now realize that trying to keep the peace when you know you should speak up will solve nothing. In reality, this will just damage the relationship between the grandmother and her grand. THE STORY My thoughts have been consumed for weeks regarding my relationship with Skylar. I have wanted to reach out to my grand, but could not bring myself to initiate a topic that had negative overtones. It was late last night in our hotel room in London. Shelly was asleep beside me and peacefulness surrounded me. I lie in bed thinking of my last conversation with Skylar, over a month ago. It was so loving and heartfelt. I reached for my laptop, which is like my second husband. This was the perfect time to message Skylar. I would open up and let the chips fall where they may, teaching her a very important, lifelong lesson. TO BACKTRACK FOR A MOMENT IN TIME The phone rang over a month ago, while I was at home in beautiful Chicago. I answered, “Good Morning!” “Hi Honey, I miss you! I am calling to see how you are,” said Skylar. “I am great. What’s going on at school?” I replied. “I love my classes in the business school, softball is so much fun and I am trying to learn to live in the present, not the future,” said Skylar. “Oh, you are practicing the theory of mindfulness?” I asked. “How do you know that word, mindful, Honey?” questioned Skylar. “Because I studied mindfulness and learned the importance of living in the now,” I explained. “I am trying too, Honey,” responded Skylar. “You will learn to if you want to,” I answered. “I am counting the days until I see you next month in Arizona, Skylar.” “Me too, Honey. Will you please stay at our house?” Skylar said. “Yes, we will stay at the house,” I answered, happily. We continued talking for some time before saying our good-byes. The conversation ended with “I love you” and […]
The featured article Don’t Be An Invisible Grandmother is available on Cellulite Solutions
from
http://www.cellulitesolutions.org/dont-be-an-invisible-grandmother/
No comments:
Post a Comment