The Five Best Aspects of Being a Grandparent

Why are we all so incredibly smitten with our grandchildren? There’s a reason there are so many quotes celebrating the beauty of the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Being a grandparent is the cherry on top of the sundae of life! It’s hard to narrow it down to the best five aspects of being a grandparent, but in honor of Grandparents’ Day on September 7, I thought I’d give it a try.

1. Second chance

Being a grandparent means getting to relive all the best parts of being a parent! We get to be involved with these wonderful people who are our grandchildren, and who can blame us if we relive a few of our young days when we were parents? We loved our children so much, and now we’re given the gift of grandchildren to recreate some of the best parts of our parenting. This time around, it’s easier to understand what is truly important and what can be ignored. We have time, love, and wisdom to give.

2. All of the fun, with little responsibility

I desperately wanted children, and I loved being a mom, but it was hard. There were many great times, but there were also sleepless nights, mounds of laundry, refereeing sibling spats, and making a million decisions, only to worry if I had made the right choice. With grandkids, most of us get to spend time having fun and then send them home. Of course, I still worry about them, but the big decisions and actions belong to their parents.

3. You get to be a rockstar

I don’t think my arrival has ever been more anticipated or celebrated than by my grandkids. It makes my day when my grandkids’ eyes light up and they excitedly run into my arms. My popularity with them seems to peak around when they are three or four, but even my too-cool eight-year-old grandson seems to enjoy our time together. Why wouldn’t they? We’re the givers of unconditional love, fewer rules, undivided attention, and cookies. There are always cookies at a grandparent’s house!

4. They keep us young

Although they do exhaust me sometimes, they also keep me young by keeping me active. I can’t say no when they ask me to jump on the trampoline with them, swim, or play make-believe games. Grandchildren give us permission to be silly. They laugh at our bad jokes, give us an excuse to have dance parties in the kitchen, hang upside down on the monkey bars, and pretend to be mermaids frolicking in the pool. I also know more about pop culture because of my grandkids. Essential things like Minecraft and Gabby’s Dollhouse.

5. They give us a purpose

I used to bargain with the higher powers to allow me to live long enough to raise my children. That wish was granted. Now I’m upping the ante by asking to live long enough to see my grandchildren raised. I hope to stick around long enough to be part of their lives and see who they become. I want to have experiences and build memories with them. Knowing my grandchildren will be in the world for decades after I’m gone gives me a sense of continuity and a feeling that I will be remembered for at least a little while after I’m gone. They make me want to fight for a better world for them and other children.

Being a grandparent is one of the most rewarding roles in life. Grandchildren capture our hearts and fill us with a love that is hard to understand until you experience it. It’s unknown who said this, but I’ll second it: “If children are the rainbow of life, then grandchildren are the pot of gold.”