Grandparents Joy!
Jul 13, 2009 Grandparents & grandparenting
Grandchildren are one of the biggest joys in the lives of grandparents, as anyone who has them will tell you! While grandparents love to shower their grandchildren with gifts, toys and sometimes even money, it’s also important to remember that quality time spent with grandchildren is often the best and most long-lasting gift they can give.
I remember at my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, the family compiled a scrapbook full of letters and photos to and about my grandparents as a gift. While reading through the letters, I realized something—all the letters from their children and grandchildren (myself included) focused on the intangible things they have shared with us. My grandparents were generous with their family both financially and with material gifts. And not just to family, but to friends as well.
But what we remembered most was the time they had spent with us over the years. Whether it was reading a story together, cooking with grandma, fishing or mowing the lawn with grandpa, or just hanging out together and talking or playing a game—it was all quality time. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the material gifts they’ve given us over the years, but time spent with loved ones always seems to be more “straight from the heart” than tangible gifts.
Quality time spent with a grandparent can seem so special for many reasons. When we are younger it sometimes seems our parents are there only to discipline us and to make sure we don’t have any fun! But grandparents (even grandparents who live in the same house as their children and grandchildren) offer a different perspective from someone other than our parents.
Grandparents have a point of view that is unique, and it’s important to share this point of view with grandchildren. Spending time with grandparents can help kids learn to relate to and appreciate older people, to listen and be patient and to respect the experiences of another generation. In a society that is increasingly “me-focused,” especially in the younger generations, this is an important trait to have. Whether my siblings and I spent a week or an afternoon with my grandparents, or simply received a letter from them, we knew we were expected to write a thank-you note, or at the very least, call them on the phone to thank them.
So the next time you’re with your granddaughter or grandson, think about the quality time you spend with them and the impact it will have. While they may not seem especially thankful now, when they get older they will appreciate the time and energy you spent with them, and you can celebrate the fact that they’ll more than likely carry this time and effort forward to future generations.
Tags: Grandparents
Grandparents Custody – 4 Reasons Joint Custody Between Parent and Grandparent Often Happens
Jul 9, 2009 Grandparents & grandparenting
It is a growing fact that more and more grandchildren are being raised in the homes of their grandparents. Some grandparents are held in limbo as to what to do because they do not know their rights or may not think they have any.Grandparents visitation rights and grandparents rights must be addressed. Every state has different laws but most states are starting to have to face the fact that grandparents are being put back into a parenting role to help keep their grandchildren safe. I am sure that there are times when parents forbid grandparents visitation to see there grandchildren form other personal reasons but that is not what I am addressing here. I am addressing children who may not be being feed properly or left alone for long periods of time due to different problems with the parents.If grandparents visitation rights are with held how are the grandparents to know if these children are alright. I am gonna list a few of the things that I know about and that other grandparents have shared with me that has lead to them either having custody or contemplating having to take custody of their grandchildren.
1. Drugs Abuse 
rug abuse has been a growing problem in our society for a number of years. When most people that I know have used drugs they loose touch with reality and the drugs are the most important thing in their lives. They may love their children but they began to get pushed to the backside of whats important.
2. Rehab:When a person finally seeks help and goes into rehab someone has to try to maintain their household while they are in rehab so they have a place to return to. Their children,your grandchildren have to have a place to stay. This is assuming that both parents have a problem and most of the time this is the case but not always. Grandparents visitations rights are so important to the safety of children of such situations.
3. Financial:Have you ever noticed that when drugs are involved financial problems appear because people on drugs tend to spend their money on drugs. They may even forget to keep food in the house. Just because they are on something that keeps them from being hungry they forget that their children are still hungry. It seems that all the money is spent on more drugs. I have honestly went to check on my grandchildren when they had not eaten for a long period of time and their parents in bed asleep in the middle of the day. Small children left up alone to take care of themselves.
4. Jail: If rehab does not work then the next stop is jail. Our jails are over full with people that have been arrested for either using or selling drugs. Some for stealing for money to buy drugs. It is a terrible circle of events. some even end up in jail or prison more than once and your grandchildren will have to stay somewhere and do you want them in foster care. Most grandparents love there grandchildren and are willing to keep them so they can be with people they love.
Now I would like to share with you some of the things I have found out. I hope you never have this problem but if you do be sure and search out your options. The New Grandparents Rights are certainly something to check out. I wish you all the best. Good luck with your grandchildren.
Jacquelyn Dunn
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacquelyn_Dunn
Tags: Between, Custody, Grandparent, Grandparents, Happens, Joint, Often, Parent, Reasons