Grandparents Connect Us to Family and Community

This Sunday 27 October is Grandparents Day here in Australia. The theme this year is Grandparents – connecting us to our family and community.

Last year, I shared some memories of my grandparents and some of the skills they had attempted to pass onto me. This years theme acknowledges the important roles that grandparents play by passing on their heritage, experience and knowledge. Through this they connect us to our family and community.

Generativity

Eric Erikson in his theory of psychosocial development suggests that people go through 8 stages of development as they go through life. The 7th stage is Generativity vs stagnation. As people enter the “post-kids, post-work” stage of life they tend to start looking for ways to pass onto others what they have learned and experienced. If they don’t find ways to pass on their wisdom they enter “stagnation”. So by grandparents passing on their heritage, experience and knowledge to their grandchildren, it is helping them to contribute to the world.

My Grandparents Connecting me with family and community

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There’s a tradition on my mother’s side of the family with how the plum pudding is served. We have coins in the pudding. So a cut is made and then from oldest to youngest you can get to choose whether you have a piece to the left or the right. You can’t look and you may or may not get a coin or 2. I don’t even like plum pudding but I will be passing this tradition on. Growing up my grandmother made the plum pudding and I have clear memories or her serving it.

My Grandma liked telling stories. I’ve shared a few in last years post. My Gran was from Scotland and I have a love of the Scottish accent and an affiliation with Scotland because of my family roots. When she was older she shared some stories as we looked through some old photographs of her mother and aunts. The stories my grandmothers have shared, as well as the traditions passed on, have helped connect me to my wider family and given me a sense of belonging.

I can remember going with my Grandma and others from her church to sing Christmas Carols at nursing homes. While I was attending university my Gran was a volunteer at meals on wheels. One university summer holiday I spent just about everyday helping at the meals on wheels where she volunteered, as they were short handed. These and other experiences connected me with community and contributed to me volunteering even now.

Grandparents connecting my children to family and community

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My children still attend weekly extended family dinners at my parents house. This is one way that grandparents are connecting them to family.

Grandma Ross also has given my daughter a new ornament to hang on the Christmas tree each year. She now has 21 ornaments from Grandma that hold special significance. They connect her to Grandma, family and tradition.

My children both went to meals on wheels with Grandma & Grandpa from when they were babies. Once they were old enough, they helped take the meals in. My son was even given a guitar from one of the people they delivered meals to, when he was helping as a teenager. My daughter often goes to Park Run with her other Grandma. These are both activities that have connected my children to community.

Activities to connect your grandchildren with family and community

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Grandparents can connect us to family and community in many ways. From sharing family stories, experiences and skills to helping serve or being active in the community.

Even if you don’t near your grandchildren you can do some of these activities over the internet, such as sharing stories or even skills. Once a skill has been shared you can talk about it as you connect on line. When you do get to see them you can have experiences in the community.

How have your grandparents connected you to family or community? How are you connecting your grandchildren to family and community?

Would you like to pass your Christian faith onto your grandchildren? Have you seen my LiFE Packs which you could use with grandchildren over the Christmas holidays? Would you like to know more about passing faith onto your children? I’m happy to lead a Grandparenting and Faith workshop in your area either in person or via a webinar.