On Life at Home

Grandparents
7 Ways They Are a Blessing
By Charlaine Martin
Families face many challenges
in today’s culture. The battle
from outside is overwhelming.
Now, more than ever, families
need the support, encouragement
and wisdom grandparents
have to offer. Finding value in
Grandma’s and Grandpa’s roles
in your family, even with sticky
issues, is important in your
home.
Grandparents don’t receive an
instruction book on how to be
grandparents. It can be awkward
at first when the baby
comes home. Grandma sweeps
your little one up in her arms,
doting every moment possible.
Your parents and in-laws love
you and your children. What you
need from them is to nurture,
encourage and support you and
your new family. But they need
to learn how to do that. You can
help them by setting healthy
boundaries, sharing your family’s
needs and expectations of
them with seven principles.
1.Grandparents nurture, encourage
and support your role as
parents to your children.
Proverbs 20:7 “The righteous
lead blameless lives; blessed
are their children after them.”
Sometimes, parents of adult children
forget that when you both
said, “I do,” the family structure
changed (Genesis 2:24). You
are no longer bound by Mom’s
and Dad’s rules, and neither are
your children, although you still
should respect them. (Exodus
20:12) This is actually freedom
for them, but it takes time to sink
in. By establishing your own traditions,
you establish your young
family’s bonds. When you giving
them time to adjust, they will
likely come on board with you.
Parenting advice has changed
over time. The rules and expectations
are not the same as
when you were a child. You keep
up with current parenting trends,
but they may not have access
to the same information. Behavior
correction has also changed.
Your parents and in-laws may
not know the “new rules” or like
them. You are the ones who
establish the rules and expectations
for your children. You
also determine what you deem
appropriate to do to deal with
undesirable behavior from your
kids. Sharing these things along
the way from before birth of your
first child will smooth out some
rough spots so grandma and
grandpa can participate joyfully
with your family’s life.
2. Grandma and Grandpa provide
a legacy as role models of
a spiritual heritage.
Psalm 71:18 “Even when I am
old and gray, do not forsake
me, my God, till I declare your
power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are
to come.”