Take the Grandparent Challenge and Let the Grandkids Tag Along

A morning walk triggered a fond memory in early June, mid-sixties. The water was cold as I jumped into the shallow end of the pool. My grandmother, slowly walking down the pool steps, declared it unusually cold for an early June morning.

We were up early for her morning swim so we could beat the young swimming students who would be arriving soon. As I think back on it, I have no memory of her swimming, but I’m sure I splashed around and practiced my mermaid strokes.

My uncle arrived just before kids began spilling out of cars for several rounds of swimming lessons. I joined my group for the lessons of the day, and my grandmother faded away to her many house chores.

The pool, a small community pool, was built by my grandfather and uncle on family land. Teaching swimming lessons was my uncle’s way of coping with the loss of his five-year-old son, who drowned ten years before.

I remember swimming, but memories of my grandmother are fleeting. Sweeping the kitchen and living room floor every day, hanging clothes outside to dry and killing a snake with a hoe melt right into Red Velvet cake at Christmas time and plenty of hugs.

Time with my grandmother wasn’t about fun; even the early morning swim was joining in her morning routine, not for my entertainment.

Today, I hear friends talk about preparations for grandchildren coming to visit. They even talk about cousin camp. Every day is full of events designed to entertain and ensure the children are having fun. By the time the week is up, my friends are exhausted and some say their favorite view is the brake lights as the family car whisks them away to their real lives.

I wonder what their grandchildren will remember about the visit.

For some time now, there has been a stark difference between the relationships children and grandchildren have now with their parents and grandparents and the norm in my childhood…

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