You might be caring for your grandchildren part time while their parents earn a living, or taking over complete child-rearing responsibilities. Either way, this new role has generated all sorts of challenges in your life. Financial demands, lifestyle changes and the loss of well-earned leisure time are factors that are potentially highly disruptive and require considerable personal sacrifice. Grandparents are the keepers, not only of family memories, but also of family customs and value systems. As you spend increased time with your grandchildren, you have a golden opportunity to instill these values and maintain traditions that have been handed down over the years.
Children love stories.
Even this generation of TV-dependent children will pay rapt attention to family stories and anecdotes. They are often kids' only guides to lead them in a better direction. By holding to your personal beliefs and standards, you set an example and offer hope to youngsters. Even if parents are not physically absent from these youngsters' lives, often they are emotionally absent. With the stresses of working long hours to pay the bills, especially in one-parent households, there often is little time left over for fun and games.