My granddaughter is a lucky girl. She has six, count them, six, grandparents. How you might ask? Well, there are the usual four, mommy’s and daddy’s parents and then my ex remarried and her daddy’s father remarried. So, six it is. If I could find a partner, it would be seven. But that’s another post.

She also has three parents as her father has remarried. So she has a lot of adults in her life who love her dearly. Maybe I should change the title of this post to My Job Description as a grandparent? Because with so many of us, spoiling her at holidays and her birthday became an issue that my daughter had to manage. Oh, I almost forgot to mention her two aunts on her mother’s side and aunt and uncle in her father’s and that she’s the only grandchild.

So my role? It’s evolved into experiences. We go to Hershey Park once a year and out to dinner. Her favorite is Red Robin. I go to her soccer matches and have even had the opportunity to babysit once. She comes over to play with my two golden retriever puppies. I also invited myself along for a week when she went to France to spend a month with her father over the summer while he was on sabbatical. I’m currently in discussion with my daughter about taking her to the circus or to see the Harlem Globetrotters. I have a niche role helping my daughter when needed and making memories my granddaughter will have long after I’m gone.

I play a unique role here. I am of use to my daughter and granddaughter, allowing my daughter to relax for a moment during her busy day and my granddaughter to have a relationship, an interaction if you will, with an adult male in a safe space. These are life experiences, teachable moments I think is the current phase, that will serve her as she grows up and interacts with others. She is looking at me and learning from my actions what to expect from others.

You are probably in a similar position. It’s a great responsibility, I’m sure you are up to the challenge. Tell me your story. I’d love to hear it.