I SEE YOU, I HEAR YOU!

Many years ago, I was a volunteer Youth Minister at our church. I enjoyed that position for four beautiful years. My only reason for leaving was that I promised my kids I would step aside when they entered their teen years. I didn’t think having their parent in this trusted, and influential position was fair to them. I have always believed that young people should have a trusted adult, other than a parent, in their lives.

The exciting thing about this position is that I learned more from my kids than they learned from me. Forty years later, I still get some affirming comments from some of them, so it was a two-way street.

One of the sayings I came up with as I listened and learned from them was, “Too Bad, So Sad, So What, Now What!” It was so foundational to my beliefs that many years later, an Artist friend and fellow Toastmaster created this piece of art for me.

My thinking in crafting this saying was; Too Bad – So Sad,…….I can see you are upset, and I hear you! ……So What……….Can you change it?………………… Now What!….. “It is what you do next that counts the most.”

Rather than be a pontificator, I first showed my intention, built a rapport with this searching soul, and then helped them see their way through it.

This is core to the way we meaningfully connect with our Grandchildren. We are in a place of honor and responsibility to not squander this unique opportunity to add as much value to their lives as possible. Please recognize how much good can come from taking every opportunity to learn beyond just communicating with your Grands and finding ways to add meaning and Connection to each engagement. SEE them and HEAR them.

Thank You for being a Caring Grandparent.