A “Grand” Place – a New Invitation for Grandparents

Welcome to A “Grand” Place — my little corner of the world just for grandparents, especially that unique group of grandparents between the ages of 40 and 65. These might still be raising teens at home or taking care of their own aging parents. Many are still in the workforce, dreaming of retirement and trying to juggle it all. Might that be you? Do you sometimes think, No one prepared me for this!

I’m of this younger grandparenting generation. My first grandchild came when I was thirty-eight years old, and my thirteenth is due to arrive mid-summer, with me at the half-ripe age of fifty-six. I am learning as I go, and loving every second of it. My husband Jeff and I couldn’t imagine anything more delightful than being grandparents and watching our own beloved adult children raising up a new crop of youngsters.

If you are a grandparent like me who wants to talk about your amazing grandchildren or one who is looking for some new ideas, a moment’s rest, a bit of advice, a word of hope, or just some encouragement and mutual back-slapping as you navigate this exciting, love-lavishing time of life, then I’m glad you hit that page button. Even if you are NOT a grandparent, but hope to become one someday (maybe sooner rather than later, but you’ll take it any way it comes), or you’re aiming to become a favorite auntie or uncle, then charge ahead. This is the place for you. And please… if you are a great-grandparent, or you’re a little bit older (or younger) than those parameters I mentioned, YOU’RE BY NO MEANS EXCLUDED. I want to reap and share whatever wisdom, warning, and comedy, I can here at A Grand Place, so join us.

For starters, let’s talk about the new baby in your life. Do you have one? Is there a little blessing about to come your way and change your world? Do you know whether it’s a he or a she? Is there already a name picked out? Has the blessed event already happened, and now you’re onto the getting-acquainted and falling-deeper-in-love stage? Do tell me!

Jeff and I are getting three grand-babies this summer (2018). The first two have already put in an appearance. Mr. Silas Everett and Miss Raya Lanae are grand-baby boy #6 and grand-baby girl #6 respectively. Another baby girl (name yet unaffirmed) will break the boy/girl tie around the end of July. So here’s your chance to chime in on baby names. Do you have a favorite that’s not too common I could share with the expectant parents? (Mom and Dad are looking for something unique without being weird — um… that’s open to interpretation.)

What are some of the names of your grandchildren? Do they fit their names? (I’ve found that sometimes a child will actually grow into the meaning of their name.) Warning: I am a writer. If I absolutely fall in love with a name you give me, it’s very possible it will end up in a novel someday.

Do you have plans to help your grandchild live up to their good name? One of the highest callings we have as grandparents is to help guide our grandchildren in small ways. We have more influence on them than we sometimes even realize. Proverbs 22:1 reminds us, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” That, of course, is not referring to the actual name we choose for a child, but rather, a good character or good reputation. Let me encourage you today, as you think about a “good name”, to make a study of Proverbs 22, and learn about all the ways you can influence your grandchildren to good character. Some of the topics regarding character in just that chapter involve stewardship, prudence, humility, justice, generosity, purity, knowledge; and on the negative side, quarreling, laziness, folly, temptation — so much that we can speak to with our years of experience and understanding. So that’s my thought on that. Are you with me?

I hope you enjoy this introduction to a Grand Place, and that you’ll drop in to join the conversation often. If you would like to be updated when there is a new post, please consider signing up for my newsletter. I won’t spam you or share your information with anyone. I don’t send them out often. Click the link or the News of the Northwoods at the top of the page. Thank you!