Grandparenting Looks Like Fun

I had coffee this weekend with a good friend and we were talking about (future) grandchildren and our plans for them. This article in the AZ Republic reminded me of our conversation; here are the opening paragraphs:

While spoiling with presents, treats, forgotten rules and extended bedtimes is a traditional part of grandparenting, some grandparents may be unfamiliar with guidelines to keep those precious ones safe and content. Some parents of little ones may find that their folks may not have worried about keeping children in car seats or covering up electrical outlets with plastic plug covers. Some grandparents find they've gotten out of the habit of cooking food on the back burners of the stove and storing household cleaners out of reach. Experts advise that parents should be clear with grandparents about child-care rules - such as diet and sleep habits.

I agree that safety comes first and foremost. I would never "spoil" a child by telling them they didn't have to buckle up in the car; that's just common sense. But when it comes to spoiling the grandkids in other ways (ice cream for breakfast? well, that's dairy, sounds good to me!), it seems like a time-honored tradition that ought to be handed down to the next generation.

The Mister has been telling our kids for years that he can't wait to spoil their children. And, as his mom would say, he comes by it honestly. One year the Mister's mother was out of town over his father's birthday, so we invited Dad over for dinner and a cake with our family, including our 3 young daughters. We had a present for him, and I had made a dinner and cake that I thought he would like. He shows up at our front door, laden with packages like a pack mule on a hunting trip! He explained he had just "stopped by" the toy store on his way over, and found a few things for the girls. There were battery operated gadgets, dolls and clothing, games, puzzles, and the piece de resistance was a huge plastic candy house that you were supposed to assemble. It had over 100 tiny pieces that decorated the shell of the house - lollipops and swirled candies and candy canes and sugar plums and I can't remember what all; I was vacuuming tiny lollipops for weeks! The girls, of course, loved it all, and he loved watching them enjoy it. This is only one tiny example of his generosity, and it's the very example the Mister uses when threatening spoiling of future grandkids. Grandchildren may be several years in the future for us, but we are gearing up for them right now. In fact, here is visual evidence of The Mister practicing, taken this past summer at Ditch Camp: