By Lou L.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32
Whether loving our grandchildren feels seamless or full of challenges, we can rest on God’s Word that whatever our grandparenting looks like, our Father in Heaven considers it a seed of the Kingdom of Heaven in their little souls. Below Grandpa Lou gives us insights into his way of loving his grandchildren well.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Wow, there are so many.
The Traditional Grandparent Acts of Love
What could be more traditional than giving our grandkids big bear hugs & kisses, often saying, “I love you!” While we may have been tougher with our own kids, we can praise our grandkids for their accomplishments – adding lots of Ooohs and Aaahs, taking pictures of them – celebrating them. But how do we go beyond that? How do we build a lifelong connection with our precious young ones?
Remember that iconic Norman Rockwell’s “In Grandma’s Kitchen” image? This is a good place to start. Get your grandkids to help with cooking or baking in the kitchen. Make it fun – making pancakes in the shape of snowmen and animals or decorating sugar cookies. Of course, make sure to let them get away with sampling their work. Naturally, you know their favorite snack and drink & have planned that as well. But it’s not all about remaking Normal Rockwell level expectations.
Setting an atmosphere of fun as the Grandparent
Show your love to your grandchildren in the ways you are able. Just remember to include the “fun” in the recipe. Kids love the silliest things. Sitting on the floor with them as they play is often their delight. Joke with them about getting up and down, act crotchety and make them laugh. Laughter is the best medicine for everyone’s soul. When they are old enough, have a grandparent’s sleepover with lots of games and activities. Sometimes it can be as simple as turning a refrigerator box into a castle.
For me, my all-time favorite is “stuck to the ceiling.” I tell my grandkids that I’m getting some glue to stick them to the ceiling. Then I pick the up & turn them upside down & start pushing their toosh up to the ceiling. In a more low-key manner, when reading a book to them I purposely change the words to see their reaction. “Hey Grandpa, that’s not how it goes!” only means I playfully buckle down. “Oh no, no, that’s just what it says there.” I always make sure the change is a silly one. One of our personal favorites is “Honey for a Child’s Heart” by Gladys Hunt. All of her works are age-appropriate books with lovely themes and rhyming language.
When they are little ones, I play Peek-a-Boo, make funny faces and blow puffs of air at them. As they get a little older, you know that you will lose at playing games like Tag – but this is an opportunity for even more fun, more tickles and more laughter. The crazier and sillier you are, the more likely they are to listen to you in the more serious and tough times. You’ve proven you know how to enter their playful world.
Indirect Random Acts of Love and Kindness
Children today face so many themes of darkness and evil. Many children have smartphones with easy access to pornography starting at the age of eight. Some school’s curriculum introduces dark, complex adult themes that children are forced to wrestle with as early as fifth and sixth grade. And during this time, children are becoming teens with hormonal changes that bring another layer of confusion and insecurity. Combined, this can create anxiety, depression and hopelessness in our sweet grandchildren. Here is where our seeds of the Kingdom of God are especially needed.
There are ways to love grandkids indirectly that remind them of your great love for them. Mailing a card or a small gift to them is a good way to make them feel special and remind them that you are their champion and a guiding light, even in a confusing and chaotic world. Set up a special space in your home for the grandkids or even a bedroom decorated as their play area. Build a fort, making it cozy and using your “emergency only” electric lantern. Share old pictures of their parents when they were younger, tell great stories of your children – be sure to add a pirate or dragon and emphasize the good parts of your kids’ childhood. Call them on the phone or, even better, do a Facetime call. They get a thrill from seeing you know their technology. You will get a thrill as well. It’s a good way to break up their day with some laughter.
Creating Customizable Creativity
Hopefully, this has gotten your creative juices flowing on how to playfully interact with your grandchild, and how you can make them look forward to your time together. Simple stuff like reading “Pete’s a Pizza” to them and rolling them like a pizza. Lead them in swing dancing or your favorite dance routine. Play Mother-May-I with them. Play Break-The-Egg Relay game (using hard-boiled eggs so no one cries over spilled yoke). Take them swimming, include water games and bring their favorite water toys. Work with some tools in the garage, learning how to hammer a nail, tighten a nut, cutting wood. Ask at Home Depot when they are having their next woodworking kids’ day on Saturday – take your grandchild for that special memory. Make a simple sailboat with a block of wood and then sail it at a public park or a lake that’s near you. Have a special drawer with rotating treats and new toys and gadgets that is just for them at your house.
You might have noticed that some of these ideas overlap. In reality they all fit into one category called “Loving your Grandchild”. The important part is that all these activities express love for them and help to build fond memories. This doesn’t cover all the ways, but it’s a good start on how to plant the seed of love, so you can continue to water it throughout their lives. Now it’s your turn. Put on your thinking cap and come up with some creative ideas of your own.
