You may already play a part in your grandchild’s life. However, there are ways that you can improve on this. The bond between a child and their grandparent can be quite important for you both. Depending on your health and mobility, you may want to think about the ways that you could be more present. This way, your grandchild may be able to grow up with fond memories of the time you have both spent together. You might also be able to use this as an opportunity to pass on some of your own life knowledge.
One of the ways that you could try to be more present can be through taking a vested interest in things that your grandchild has stated they like. This can make it easier to come up with gift ideas for a 10 year old boy that might be more likely to be met with a smile. Buying a Christmas or birthday gift for your grandchild, or simply just because shouldn’t be a chore. By asking them what they like or, if you want it to be a surprise, doing a little bit of research into what similar children like, you might be able to get to know their tastes and, therefore, know them even better.
Some of your current actions may also be preventing you from being properly present in your grandchild’s life. You may need to evaluate how often you are doing something else while your grandchild is trying to talk to you, or show you something. While, at times, this may be unavoidable, such as sorting out medication or cooking a meal, there may also be times you can control. One of the main contributors to this lost time could be smartphone addiction, which many adults deal with. It can be a good idea to put your cellphone down and instead actively engage in what your grandchild is saying. You may find out something new about them, or simply be able to enjoy that time more.
That being said, there are times that cellphones, tablets, and other technologies could be useful for staying involved. You may want to learn how to video call your grandchild so that, when you can’t be with them in person, you can still keep up with their recent events. Spending a little bit of time calling them each day or, if pressed for time, each week can show your grandchild that you care. In addition to this, particularly for those with younger grandchildren, it can help to develop that bond and allow them to remember what you look like.
Being more present in your grandchild’s life isn’t always just for their benefit. You may find that spending time with them gives you more of a sense of purpose. It could also help your adult children to be able to work, or simply have a small amount of time for themselves. Either way, spending time with grandchildren can be seen as a precious gift that you may want to make the most out of.