Are My Grandchildren Spoiled?

Nope, They All Smell That Way!


Spoiling our grandchildren is our reward for growing old. Not only that... it’s our duty. The following words are something parents should instill into the memories of their teenage children..."Just you wait till you have your own children." This is especially true for teenagers who have given their parents more than their fair share of grief. When they make you a grandparent, it’s your turn to get even.

Let’s see, how can you spoil those little ones?

Buy them things they ask for that they don’t really need. This drives the parents nuts. But keep in mind that they are just "things" and don’t be hurt if in the near future you see those "things" in mom and dad’s garage sale because "things" are seldom remembered.

Enroll them in special classes; skating, dancing, skiing, karate, you get the idea. You had better be prepared to take them to those classes though because, for whatever reason, parents resent your having budgeting their free time.

Try this. Take them out to eat. Meal time is a great time for family conversations. It is amazing how much you can get kids to talk if you put a good meal in front of them. Enjoy those conversations. This is when you can really get to know one another. And guess what, you have a trapped audience. Take this time to teach them what you feel is important.

Give them something they will cherish, something of you. Share with them values and character building tools that will be with them in years to come. Those tools will be remembered for the rest of their lives and you, the one who taught them them those tools, will undoubtedly be remembered as well. There are few things more important.


Tell them you love them and tell them often. It’s free and it has great rewards. Be proud of them and let them know that you are when they accomplish something they have put an effort into. Your pride is something they will strive for in future tasks.

Your closeness to your grandchildren will depend a great deal on how close you live to your grandchildren. It is difficult to spoil them if you hardly ever get to see them. This was the dilemma I faced when I lived in a somewhat large midwest city that had absolutely nothing in the way of recreation to draw my children back home with their children. Coming to see grandma was an OK thing, but soon gets very boring if there is nothing else to do. So I moved to a beautiful small town in Arkansas, bought a house by the lake and a pontoon boat and now I get to see them several times a year. Now that might be going to the extreme, but boy it’s been worth it. And I get to see my friends from my previous place of residence, and their families, and I get to spoil their grandchildren as well. Ain’t life grand!

Remember, the greatest investment we can make while we are alive is in our children.