Grandkids

I never post photosor personal information about my kids or grandkids online because of the bad guys out there. I try not even to mention their names on the internet.

But I recently had a visit from two grandkids who I seldom see and can't resist blogging about how much I enjoyed the visit.

I loved being a parent and did my best to be a good one. Of course I'll never stop loving my children even though they're all grown up and left the nest years ago.

But there's something even better about having grandchildren.

Although there are exceptions, as when kids live with their grandparents, usually the grandparents don't have to deal with behavior, school, or other things we dealt with when raising our own kids. We can simply enjoy the grandchildren.

And at the end of a visit we old folks can rest and relax instead of being on duty as parents 24/7.

I wish I could see my grandchildren more often, but when I do see them I appreciate being able to spend time with them more than words can express.

Grandkids

It's great to be a mother, but maybe even better to be a grandmother. Unless your grandkids live with you the responsibility part isn't 24/7 but you still get the fun part. At least you do if you get to see your grandkids frequently.

I feel sorry for the people who live so far away they seldom or never get to see their grandkids or can't see them because of health or family problems.

Too bad I can't see mine more often, but we are close enough to see each other fairly often and that's when the fun happens. I'll be seeing mine again soon and I can hardly wait.

Be There Bedtime Stories

As a grandmother who lives over a hundred miles from her kids I'm excited to hear about Be There Bedtime Stories, a new way to read to your children or grandchildren when you aren't physically with them. This will also be a great way for people in the military service or who must travel a lot to be an active part of their children's lives. And it will probably be a comfort to children in hospitals, too.

I'm please that some of my own books will be available in this format, although they aren't there yet.

If you're interested in learning more, here's the link:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/12/prweb4841194.htm

Sentimental Stuff

Okay, I admit it; I'm a packrat. When we moved away from a house where we'd lived for thirty years I was amazed at the amount of stuff we got rid of. But there are some impractical things I expect to keep for the rest of my life. Those are the sentimental reminders of my kids.

When my mother died and my brother and I went through her stuff we were both extremely touched by what she found. Of course we expected the family photos, which brought back warm memories, but I was surprised to see the artwork and writing I'd done as a child, some of which was actually quite good. The fact that my mother had kept it showed that she had been proud of my accomplishments and finding it reminded me of her love.

Someday when my own kids and grandkids discover the treasures I've kept I hope it will remind them of my love for them.

Grandkids

My grandson is spending the week with us and I love being a grandma. I wish we lived closer and could see each other more often, but the time we do spend together is so much fun.

Some children must live with their grandparents, who take the place of parents, and others frequently care for their grandkids, but it's still different from being a parent because they have the benefit of experience.

Others seldom or never see their grandkids.

But those of us who do get to spend time with our grandkids are among the luckiest people in the world.