Diamonds in the rough

[shirley]

Grandparenting can be several different things for me, but for now it is being the MOM to two precious boys, my grandsons

There are so many explanations as to why at our age, we would take on the responsibility of raising our grandchildren. Be it love of our adult children to help and assist them, or the special love needed, due to the abuse and neglect or medical reasons that our grandchildren may have had to endure. We could reject our adult children if they happened to be irresponsible, but then we'd be rejecting our grandchildren, our own flesh and blood. At times I am sure this would be easy to do and then other times it would be the unthinkable. This doesn't matter, what does matter is giving these children a chance at life.

We were given an " opportunity " to make a difference for our grandchild . If this journey that was chosen or forced upon us by the courts, doesn't make the road any less challenging These children, like adopted children, are Attachment Challanged Children and therefore have many challanges that takes our whole-souled devotion. This should bring up our own FEAR. We have had to put on lives on hold. Putting the Golden Years off, with no planned retimement travelings or retirement communities, second honeymoons, or living peacefully. Many of us have little or limited resources and possibly failing health. This makes the journey a little harder each day. So how does a grandparent keep up with this roller-coaster ride that they are taking with these grandchildren? What about their own FEAR? What is the strength in grandparents that makes them continue on this journey ? It is called LOVE, because " LOVE THROWS FEAR OUTSIDE."

When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. Grandparents tend to overlook the little petty things that we as parents get so fustrated about. Grandparents have the patience of Job and the compassion of the Good Samaritian and the ability to forgive and forget Grandparents hear the cries and loneliness of a child, before the child does. It's not easy to travel this road. They not only provide the neccessities of life, but provide the STRENGTH that is needed for these little ones on this journey and to make it in this world.

Grandparents may never get a hand-written thank you or an award for accomplishments, or have persons understand why they put their lives on hold or even why they went on this journey with their grandchildren, but one thing is certain, we, the grandparents, can go to sleep at night and know we did all we could to love, protect and provide for these precious gems known as "grandchildren". When we clothe ourselves with LOVE, it is a perfect bond of union. What more could we ask for ?

Hopefully, we will be able to live to be 100 y/o and see these "diamonds in the rough" sparkle. It is then, they may bring us their "gems" , our great-grandchildren. (but not to raise)