Maintaining Contact
One of the challenging things about having four different grandchildren at different ages and interests is having four different grandchildren at different ages and interests. It was easier when they were younger. Although evenly spaced by two or three years, their interests seemed more similar and predictable. Now—not so much. Grandparenting little ones I remember my mom being a terrific, engaged grandmother to our children when they were very young. But as Heidi and Jason began to become individual people with their own ideas about what was fun, she didn't know what in the hell to do. Being outlandish by nature, Ada redeemed herself as they got older, reclaiming her craziness and reconnected with her 'grown' grandchildren. Their memories of her focus on the goofy Grandma. My father, Lanny, was happy being Santa (the helper) to them. Life lesson... It's hard enough as a grandparent to stay connected with children as they mature.* But having li