By: CynDee Zandes
This articles is written by a member of our expert blogging team.
What was special about
September 9, 2012? Is it that it is the
Sunday after Labor Day? Is it that most
kids have gone back to school? Is it the
first official day of fall? (Unless of
course you are in the Southern Hemisphere and it would be the first official
day of spring.) The answer is, none of
the above. It was Grandparent’s
Day. That’s right, Grandparent’s
Day. This is a day that you have to
“age” into—much like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day just with more investment of
time.
Personally I have learned
many things from my grandchildren—Nick and Ryan. I have learned how much fun it is to see the
world through eyes that are full of curiosity and wonder. I have learned how the seemingly most
insignificant things can mean the world to you.
I have learned how to truly enjoy each stage of their growing up.
Recently I took the boys to
Washington D.C. for a whirlwind week at the Capitol. While we were on our way I asked what they
were most interested in seeing. One of
them replied, “The Lincoln Memorial. You
know it’s on the back of almost every penny.”
So needless to say, the Lincoln Memorial was one of our first stops. Later in the day we were at the Capitol on a
tour and the tour guide asked if anyone knew why the dome, which weighs a great
many tons, doesn’t collapse on itself. A
young boy gave a brilliant answer as to the physics in play to keep that from
happening. What I realized at that
moment was the profound difference between being a parent and a grandparent. As a parent I would have been asking myself
if I needed to put my son in a science club, and should I spend more time
discussing physics and science with him so he could have the answer to
important questions. As a grandparent I
thought, “Isn’t it a shame that this other young man doesn’t know that the
Lincoln Memorial is on the back of almost every penny?" In other words, as a parent I would have been
less willing to embrace differences and celebrate the skills and talents of my
child, whereas through the lens of “grandparent,” I could simply hold close the
uniqueness of each of my grandchildren and know that they are following a one
of a kind, individual path to becoming.
In afterschool we have some
of the same opportunities as a grandparent.
We can celebrate the diversity and differences in the youth we serve and
realize that each of them is on the road to recognizing the talents, gifts and
potential that he or she was born with.
What a wonderful opportunity for all of us!
Photo via (cc) Flickr user ToastyKen
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