Act your age

 When you want a child to be more mature, you commonly say, “Act your age.” This phrase gets a lot of use even for adults, probably mostly for middle-aged men who lapse into immature behaviour from time to time. But there is a truth behind that little phrase.

For each phase of our lives, there is an expectation of how we will behave. We can refuse to accept those expectations of adult behaviour and insist that, “I refuse to grow up.” This is called the Peter Pan syndrome and most people consider it more a sign of desperate clinging to youth than anything noble.

So, as you move into the era of your life that is called your golden years, you may realize at some point that you have to “act your age”. When that time comes that you realize that they have inherited the role of a grandparent but so maybe it's time to act like one comes at different times for everyone. But there comes that time to begin to become a grandparent for the people who need this of you the most – those sweet grandbabies who need a grandparent just you needed one when you were young.

The key question to ask yourself is, “what does it mean to be Grandparent and how can I grow into that role for my children and grandkids?”

You didn’t do anything to become a Grandparent. You just raised your son or daughter to be a responsible young adult and nature took its course. Before long you got the call that they had a baby. So, to understand how you can best live up to that high calling, probably the best role model is your own Grandparents and what you needed from her when you were small. Taken in that light, the things those little ones need are…

·        To spoil them. This is the fun part of being a Grandparent. You don’t have to spoil them seriously but if there isn’t always something fun to do and maybe candy and gum at your place if you’re good that would be good wouldn’t it?

·        A place to go. “Going to the Grandparent's house” should mean something just this side of going to heaven to your grandkids. And as long as it stays that way, your grandchildren will be able to always come to you even in times of trouble.

·        Unconditional love. It’s the parent’s job to provide the discipline and rules. You are the one with a ready hug, a loving smile and who always has time to give to the Grandkids

·        A ready ear. A Grandparent is the one that your grandkids can always pour their heart out to. Your understanding and your patience mean you will wait for your grandchild to get out what is on her mind is what makes time with you so precious.