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Celebrating the Moms of Our Grandkids
Mother’s Day is May 10th. It’s a holiday that we as grandmothers can celebrate three fold! We are all daughters, mothers and ‘grand’mothers too. I haven’t always celebrated my daughter on Mother’s Day other than a quick ‘Happy Mother’s Day!’. Or maybe it’s with a phone call or a ‘thumbs up/party hat’ in a celebratory text. But this year I’m upping my game! Afterall, she’s given me this grandmother role that I cherish with everything in me! I am so grateful for all she does for those precious granddaughters of mine, and for the effort she gives to helping me stay in relationship with them, even at a distance.
The Work in Motherhood
I remember the fun and the work, the sometimes heartwrenching work, of raising kids. The work that seemed never ending, and wasn’t always rewarded at the time. I remember the realization that there isn’t an ‘easy’ season to parenting. That as they grew up my kids would never need me less, they would just need me differently.
One Thing We Can Always Do – No Matter How Distant
As I watch our daughter and her husband parent I’m so proud of them, yet I wish I could be closer. It would be great just to give them a quick break, or drop off a treat after a tough day. To hang out with my daughter and the kids while her husband is in a long ‘extra hours kind of season’ at work would be so helpful to her. But as you all know – being distant makes these things pretty tough! One thing we can always do though, is cheer them on as they parent.
How I’m Celebrating My Daughter This Mother’s Day
So, this Mother’s Day, in addition to sending a nice little gift card , I am planning to celebrate her all year by keeping her inbox, mailbox and text messages full of encouragement. You see, the roadmap to successful grandparenting (consistency, mindfulness and spontaneity) can apply to our relationshp with our kids too!
When I think of my daughter, I see characteristics of diligence, compassion, wisdom, kindness, a servant’s heart, and the willingness to just ‘go for it’. I’m going to celebrate those characteristics by having some postcards ready to cheer her on in each of those areas. As I learn about her week, or hear stories about her day (or a day that’s coming up), I’ll just quickly write on one, and pop it in the mail. Some days I will quickly text or give her a call. But my goal is to mail something once each month. Consistency. Mindfulness. Spontaneity.
Postcards & Notecards of Encouragement (and a little humor)
I thought I’d share some postcards and note paper with you in case you’d like to join me in this mailbox encouragement campaign for our daughters. Because they do still need us, they just need us differently now.
Happy Mother’s Day to YOU!
Happy Mother’s day to you! My hope is that you are blessed and celebrated for all you have poured into your children!
Looking for more ways to nurture your relationships with your grown kids? Check out Comm 100: Ground Rules for Grandparenting!