The joy of grandparenting
When dear friends Rose Anne and Lyra recently became “glammas,” I found myself wondering what it would feel like to hold a grandchild of my own. In this sometimes crazy world, welcoming a new life is one of the most hopeful expressions of love.
For decades, my husband and I have been our children’s anchors, guiding them through sleepless nights, feverish mornings, and the turbulent waves of adolescence. Looking through their scribbled notes and crayon-bright cards still brings a smile to my face and takes me back to the days when they clung to me and held my hand as we walked. Someday, I hope to experience the next chapter: holding a newborn in my arms and, in time, hearing a little voice call me “Grammy” for the first time.
When that day comes, my husband and I will discover the joys of becoming Lolo and Lola.
A new role, a different kind of love
In our culture, becoming a grandparent is often seen as passing the torch. We pass on family values, traditions, and faith, but grandparenting is much more than stepping back from parenting. It is an invitation to love in a different way—with greater patience, perspective, and freedom.
After years of balancing responsibility, discipline, and the demands of daily life, we may no longer carry the full weight of raising children. Instead, we gain the privilege of being present: looking into a newborn’s eyes, breathing in that sweet baby scent, and marveling at our family’s continuing story.
Grandchildren are also a reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness. Scripture tells us that “children’s children are a crown to the aged” (Proverbs 17:6). The thought of holding a grandchild fills me with wonder at how the love we’ve poured into our children can blossom into another generation.
Being a blessing without overstepping
Yet this new role calls for humility. Moving from being the one in charge to becoming a supportive guide can be challenging. The temptation to say, “In my day, we did it this way,” may be hard to resist.
Our adult children may choose different feeding methods, sleep routines, or parenting approaches. While we have years of experience to share, I hope to give them the freedom to find their own way.
After all, we spent years teaching them to stand on their own. Perhaps one of the final acts of parental love is trusting them to do just that.
Sometimes, being supportive means offering help without taking over. It means listening before giving advice, asking how we can help rather than questioning their decisions, and respecting the foundation they’re building for their own families.
And when it comes to passing on our faith, perhaps the most powerful example is the life we lead. A Lolo or Lola who radiates kindness, patience, forgiveness, and unconditional love can offer a glimpse of God’s love without needing to preach.
A legacy of love
To be a grandparent is to hold history in your heart and the future in your arms. It is the joy of sharing stories about when Mom or Dad was little, spoiling them a little now and then, and offering a peaceful haven when life overwhelms them.
We don’t become grandparents only when a baby arrives. In a way, we begin preparing for that role as we watch our own children grow into independent adults.
That realization is beautiful and a little bittersweet. Someday, the babies I once carried may build families of their own and place a tiny new life into my waiting hands.
That is the grace of becoming.
I hope that, when the time comes, my husband and I will be safe havens of prayer, wisdom, laughter, and affection. More than toys or treats, may we give our future grandchildren the assurance that they will always be cherished and unconditionally loved.
Our hands may wrinkle and our bodies may slow, but the love we have left to give can continue to grow. Perhaps that is one of grandparenting’s sweetest blessings: discovering that while the way we love may change, our hearts never stop making room for more.
