Grandparents have historically played vital roles in helping to raise grandchildren. US News shares that in 2020, nearly 3 million children in the United States were being raised by grandparents. In numerous cases, they stepped in as custodians out of necessity, assuming the role of caretaker when parents were unable to raise their own children. Grandparents also stepped in to help grandchildren with troubled backgrounds, such as a history of drug or alcohol abuse. Though some elders face income challenges, grandparents do their best to provide stability for grandchildren in hopes of giving them a better future, despite it being a sacrifice of their time, freedom, and finances. In instances where grandparents are not the primary caretaker, they often still play crucial roles in the lives of their grandchildren. But the worldwide pandemic provided some hurdles by preventing grandparents from spending time with their grandkids.
Good news. As more people are being vaccinated, we are growing closer to resuming our “normal” lives formerly disrupted due to social distancing and isolation practices related to COVID-19. In taking safety precautions for their newly born baby and for their own parents, parents may have asked non-household family members to stay away. In many cases, grandparents relied upon social media posts, photos, letters, texts, emails, and Zoom calls to learn the news. Now that we generally feel safer to gather in small groups, for many grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, this marks happy family reunions and first-time meetings of babies born during the pandemic. We are hearing more about grandparents who are elated over holding grandbabies for the first time and getting long hugs from grandchildren with whom they have been estranged.
Fully vaccinated grandparents who do not live with a grandchild are being increasingly encouraged by their own children to come visit. Many grandparents give special attention to their grandchildren by reading books, doing puzzles together, taking walks, singing songs, going to the park or zoo, playing board games, or even teaching a child a second language. In general, the parent has the primary role of discipline, and this helps to ease the relationship between grandparent and grandchild. Older grandchildren who spend time with a grandparent may learn to prepare ethnic recipes, such as homemade pasta or tortillas, or become engaged in specialty and time-honored crafts such as pottery or wood crafting. Learning these activities can provide a child with knowledge, a sense of pride, and increased self-confidence. In return, the grandchildren may reciprocate by teaching their grandparents the latest dance, lingo, or computer technology.
Grandparents who spend time with their grandchildren directly impact the primary socialization skills of the youth. The term primary socialization is defined as a person’s first experience with language, values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms. Grandparents can help define a grandchild’s world by being positive role models, setting goals and boundaries, helping them gain a sense of self-worth, and by helping them form perceptions of the world and others. Of the many gifts that grandparents impart, they are the finest teachers of tradition, serving the important purpose of connecting children to history and the past. Successful Black Parenting shares, “Traditions help people to feel secure and give them a sense of family identity.” Grandparents often enjoy passing on cultural customs, instilling religious values, and imparting principles such as respect, accountability, sensibility, perseverance, empathy, and more. A first-hand relatable experience shared by a grandparent has a far greater impact than any lesson in a book.
Undoubtedly, the impact of the pandemic was socially and physically challenging for the senior generation. The COVID-19 tragedy has called us to reflect on the great contributions made by elder members of society. With a wealth of knowledge to share, immense love to give, and important life lessons to impart, grandparents have the unique ability to bond with and teach the newest generation. Grandparents, secondary to the parents, possess a powerful gift from God, the ability to help grow exceptional children by being present in their lives, nurturing them, and by guiding them by experience through the twists and turns of life. And, as grandchildren mature, they will someday look back at the time they spent with a grandparent through loving eyes and with the deepest appreciation for helping them to develop and succeed in life.