Grandparent of “today” -vs- Grandparent of “yesterday”

I always get the biggest kick when I read comments, articles and books that seem to “blame Boomers” for being the largest and most influential generation to ever exist. As though somehow we played a personal role in devising, plotting, and then executing,…a plan to be born in mass so that one day we could rule the world.

Sorry folks, but our 76 million strong generation is truly nothing more than “cause” (WWII vet’s coming home from a long war!) and “effect” (Do I really need to explain this?)

Truth is, Boomers have broken every mold and ignored every norm because what was in place was antiquated in light of 76 million people showing up for the ball.

And here we are again,.. 40 million Boomers showing up at the threshold of “Grandparenting” at the same time. And yes, we are going to give grandparenting a face-lift,…the traditional role of grandparents is outdated, so much has changed!
“Extended life-spans”, “Better disease control, health care and over all physical condition”, and “Different financial structures”,…means the grandparent of today is a new breed of animal compared to the grandparent of the past.

* At an age that use to signify the ‘end’ of life, Boomers are just blooming! Forty-eight is considered about middle age and seventy-five and older is considered ‘finally growing up’.

* The high divorce rate among boomers added a twist to things, many have grandchildren, while at the same time have their own young children!

* Thanks to the shift from the “Industrial Age” to the “Information Age”,..Success is now “Ageless”. Earning power exists at ANY age. That means more disposable income to spend on our grandchildren.

* We are younger Mentally and Physically than our grandparents, and younger, healthier grandparents mean playing more of an active role in the lives of our grandchildren.

We are NOT the grandparents of the past and it would be fool-hearty to imagine that we COULD be.

Whereas the responsibility of grandchildren use to lie squarely on ‘parents shoulders’, in todays world we are willing to step up to the plate and realize the difference that we can make being involved in our grandchildrens lives.

AND WE LOVE IT.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

I am wishing a SAFE and JOY-FILLED 4th Of July for each and everyone of you!

I also want to encourage everyone of you to the take time to re-read the Declaration of Independence and consider the progress of this “noble experiment” (Benjamin Franklin) called the United States of America.

In a society where the introduction of new technology is forever keeping us ‘connected’ to something or someone every waking moment of the day, and it continues to process even while we sleep,…it can be challenging to find a “free moment” at any point of the day to do anything that is not on a list of ‘necessity’! But ‘how easily we forget’ in the busyness of our lives, what it is that we really have. I HIGHLY encourage you to ‘find’ the time – to re-visit the events and acknowledge the sacrifices that have afforded us the FREEDOM we indulge ourselves in daily. Then pass that knowledge on to your grandchildren so they have an ACCURATE picture of our Country and what it took to have what they enjoy today.

My Son, Benjamin, is in the Military and will be getting deployed at the end of the year. The commitment the men and women in the Military make to maintain our freedom and our liberties is sealed with the willingness to perform the ‘ultimate sacrifice’. To ‘give all’ is something they believe whole-heartedly in.

Supporting our Troops isn’t the same as agreeing with the policies or the decisions if our government,..it is simply a show of gratitude for those willing to lay their lives on the line when called upon to do so. They don’t flinch, they don’t whine, they don’t take the time to “weigh out’ whether or not YOU, I, or anyone else is worth dying for. They simply uphold an oath to protect and serve their Country, and ALL AMERICANS fall under that oath.

June 24th of last year our city welcomed home from the longest overseas tour to date for any Nebraska Guard unit. Members of the 1-167th Cavalry and 134th Infantry Detachment (Long Range Surveillance). We left home early and planted ourselves on the Bus route. Thousands of others joined us, and it brought tears to my eyes to see the SUPPORT.

Hannah and Abby made signs that said WELCOME HOME and THANK YOU. We had our American Flags in our hands,..waiting for the flashing lights of the police escort to appear in the distance. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as the buses made their way through the city. A procession of more than 400 motorcycles, the Patriot Guard Riders, stretching for dozens of blocks escorted the buses. The soldiers were greeted by rows of U.S. flags and yellow ribbons and thousands of people cheering them home!

It was beyond “MOVING”,…it was INSPIRING! My heart welled with my love for this country I live in and the Freedoms I enjoy,…I never want to forget THE COST for that freedom. To me,…that is what the 4th of July is all about.

It is up to us Grandparents to make sure that our Grandchildren UNDERSTAND the sacrifices made for the FREEDOM they enjoy. To not allow them to be ignorant or apathetic about what it takes to maintain that FREEDOM.

My prayer today is: GOD PROTECT THOSE THAT MAKE A WILLING SACRIFICE TO PROTECT FREEDOM.