What Is a Grandparent?
Definitions and Insight - the Value of Grandmothers and Grandfathers
Some of this material may be from printed sources, attributed below.
If you ever have a family identity crisis and need reassurance about what grandparenting is, read and re-read this set of definitions that come from children and adults who really get it.
Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of her own. They like other people's.
Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see them. They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run. It is good if they drive us to the shops and give us money.
When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.
They show us and talk to us about the color of the flowers and also why we shouldn't step on "cracks."
They don't say, "hurry up."
Usually grandmothers are fat but not too fat to tie your shoes.
They wear glasses and funny underwear.
They can take their teeth and gums out.
Grandparents don't have to be smart.
They have to answer questions like "why isn't God married?" and "how come dogs chase cats?".
When they read to us, they don't skip. They don't mind if we ask for the same story over again.
Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television because they are the only grown ups who like to spend time with us.
They know we should have snack-time before bedtime and they say prayers with us every time and kiss us even when we've acted bad.
A 6 year-old was asked where his grandma lived. 'Oh,' he said, 'she lives at the airport and when we want her we just go get her. Then when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.'
Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!
It's funny when they bend over, you hear gas leaks and they blame their dog.
Grandmas and Grandpas are older than mothers and fathers. They usually have gray hair or white hair. Sometimes, Grandpas have no hair at all, but that's all right because Grandpas don't need to use a comb and hair brush every morning.
Grandmas and Grandpas like to play games with grandchildren, listen to grandchildren tell what happened in the park and at school, and answer questions. They especially like to read stories to grandchildren from big books with lots of pictures.
Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting.
A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television.
This material, according to Sandra L. DeMattia, was first used it in 1974 by Dr. James Dobson in his book "What Wives Wish Their husbands Knew About Women" (pg.47,48) then again in 1995 in "Home With a Heart" (pg 20, 21) It has also been published in a book by Becky Freeman Johnson titled "It's Fun To Be A Grandma"...Chapter 24. When Maryan Pelland composed this collection of statements, she culled them from more than one unattributed website, with no knowledge of the books mentioned above and no intention of infringing on another work.
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