Happy Grandparents Day!

Did you know that last Sunday was grandparents day? Me neither.  It isn't a holiday that is widely celebrated like Mother's Day or Father's Day. But maybe it should be.
About 60 percent of all adults 50 and older are grandparents, including 80 percent of widowed persons and 13 percent of never-marrieds in that age bracket. The ranks of grandparents swelled by 50 percent in just 25 years. According to new research and this article, grand parenting isn't what it use to be.  The article points out that baby-boomers (my generation) have changed everything their whole lives, so why not change grand parenting? 

Key findings include:

• The vast majority of grandparents in the quantitative study said they play a very (59%) or somewhat (30%) important role in the lives of their grandchildren.
• About seven in ten (69%) grandparents live within 50 miles of their closest grandchildren. Another 10% indicated that they have to travel over 200 miles to see their closest grandchildren. A little over four in ten (43%) grandparents have to travel over 200 miles to see their grandchildren who live furthest away from them.
• Grandparents who said they did not see their grandchildren enough most often cited distance (67%) as a reason why; followed by the grandchildren’s busy schedules (64%).
• The most frequently mentioned methods of communicating with grandchildren were either face-to-face or telephone. In the telephone survey, nearly six in ten grandparents said they speak with their grandchildren at least once a week (58%).
• Grandparents see their role as shapers of another generation. Specifically, grandparents mentioned the importance of passing on values and helping their grandchildren develop morally and spiritually.
• The majority of grandparents in the telephone survey indicated that they have discussed morals and values (78%) and religion or spirituality (66%) with at least one of their grandchildren. As a corollary, nearly half (47%) indicated that they have attended religious services with their grandchildren in the past six months.

Grandparents represent one of America's largest and most underutilized natural resources, they are healthier today than ever before, more vital and they have more financial resources than grandparents did in previous generations.  Many grandparents like to give their grandchildren cultural experiences and take them on trips. Grandparents desire to share family history, teach grandchildren things they felt were important and to love unconditionally. At least half of grandparents discuss very serious topics with grandkids, including sex, drugs, underage drinking, morality and dating. By the numbers, 78 percent talk to them about morals and values, 73 percent discuss personal safety, 72 chime in on school and career plans and 66 percent on religion/spirituality.

I've had the good fortune to spend some quality and quantity time with each of my eight darling grandchildren in the last couple of months. They are such fun and interesting little people and it is a joy to watch them grow and develop.

Grandparents have never been better connected and now they have the opportunity to talk on cell phones, text messages, talk over Face time or Skype and share information on social media outlets.  I love to stay connected with my little grand kids through most of these outlets.

Grandparents are important people.  I think it is important to find ways to keep the channels of communication open and for grandparents to take opportunities to spend time with their grandchildren in meaningful, memorable and fun ways.  I love being a grandparent and look forward to future shared experiences with my GRANDS.