I’m sure Lesley Stahl’s peers are as she describes in The New York Times Opinion page today: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/opinion/sunday/grandbabies-the-great-reward-for-aging.html?ref=opinion. Most have plenty of money, time and interest in their grandkids. However, there’s a much larger percentage of grandparents that also love their grandchildren and are willing to help out as they can, but they do not have the financial means to pay for their grandchildren’s escalating child care costs, $500 bassinets and iPads. And so describes the vast disconnect in our country.
Our children are listening. They are watching and absorbing all that is around them. Would it not make more sense to teach them, regardless of the number of zeros in a bank account, that less is more? Most have plenty of things already in our homes to serve the child, beginning with ourselves. When given an opportunity, we can teach them about the care of our environment and others …
Spend time, talk, walk and wonder with your grandchild. Build a fort out of blankets. Read a book together. Teach him/her to fold clothing, pour a glass of juice and cut an apple. It doesn’t take money to do these things, it takes interest. These rewarding and cherished moments will be the greatest investments you can make and will provide lasting memories for all.