Doug Helton 10/29/15: Being a Grandparent

Doug Helton PhotoBeing a grandparent is one of the best jobs in the world. My wife Ceil and I have four of them, three boys and a girl.

Children and grandchildren are truly a blessing, a gift, a heritage and a reward.

American radio icon Paul Harvey once said “posterity is the patriotic name for grandchildren.”

Being in my 60s and a grandparent I’m in an important place in life, a time to make a few improvements in my approach to child-rearing. It seems
grandparents are able to be kinder and gentler, more nurturing, more playful and fun. And then when we get tired we just send them home.

As parents we poured ourselves into the responsibility of rearing our children, and now our kids have that job with their children.

Parents have the tough task of making kids eat their vegetables, but as grandparents we can enjoy the Halloween candy and the birthday ice cream and cake
and not feel guilty doing so.