Thoughts On Parenting & Grandparenting

[Falla39]

Just a few thoughts about parenting and grandparenting. Can't say much
about GREAT-grandparenting yet. We are expecting our first Great-grand-
child in about seven weeks.
Perhaps everyone will not feel they need this. Someone might though!
I realize these thoughts will not and could not apply to everyone. In fact
after I wrote it, decided not to post it. Tried three times to delete and
it kept popping up. So for whatever it's worth:


What a tremendous support and influence our paternal grandparents were in our lives.
What a wonderful support and influence my own parents were to our six children. Our
lives would no doubt have been lacking without either.

I believe that after raising children, parents should not try to raise their children's
children. (There are exceptions) But if parents train up their children "in the way
they should go, the grandparents need to "back off" and not tell their children
how to raise theirs. This breeds "in-law" problems.

When our grandchildren have birthday parties, (usually at a place with accommenda-
tions enough for parents and child, siblings, grandparents on each side). We make it
a "big family affair". While the parents and children have the "party", we grandparents
sit to the side and visit. This keeps us connected. We have had "Mothers and Father's
Day" get-to-gethers also. Usually the adult children make reservations in advance and
we just get together and everyone loves it. We just make sure everyone feels loved.
It does'nt have to be this way every year, but we started doing this and the other
grandparents feel comfortable with us. We treat our children's spouses parents as we
wish to be treated. Love covers a multitude of things!

We enjoy our grandchildren and they love and respect us as they have and
are being trained to do. We are just endeavoring to pass on what was passed
to us. From generation to generation. "God is in the generation of the righteous".
Not our righteousness, we have none. It's His Righteousness in us. We have
nothing to boast of within ourselves. Only the the LORD GOD, JESUS!

We don't know everything about grandparenting but our parents supported
and helped us (advice when asked). We give our adult children space and do
not have to know every move they make. They give us space and do not ex-
pect us to be available anytime they need a babysitter, etc. They know they
can always count on us in times of need for prayer, etc., support!

We do not expect our children's in-laws to automatically be of our faith. We
just endeavor to live it. ((All of our children and their spouses are in the church).
Hasn't always been that way. God will lead and guide them just as HE did us
and our parents before us. Trust and obey, for there's no other way: To be
happy in JESUS! But to TRUST and OBEY!

None of our three daughters or daughters in law work out of the home. Again
it hasn't always been that way. But when their children came along, things
changed. (All of our children are married to their original spouses).
I'm giving GLORY to GOD for what HE has done and will do for anyone who
will seek HIS WILL and FAVOR! When things are in GOD's ORDER, it will work
out!

Blessings,

Falla39