Grandparents Make the World Go Around – By Jacqueline Ranatunga
Source : Dæhæna – Monthly e-Newsletter October 2022
As we approach Grandparents Day Australia on 30 October, this year I begin to contemplate my role and what it means to be a grandmother. I ponder over the compound terms grand and parent to understand this privilege bestowed upon me. The term parent urges us to understand the role of nurturer and caregiver and reminds us that we were parents before we became grandparents. The prefix grand adds more flair to the role. The relationships experienced between grandparents and grandchildren are certainly grand and much more. The benefits of this relationship are mutual to the grandchild and the grandparent.
Rewarding relationships are undoubtedly beneficial for the growing child, teenager and adult. While it takes a village
to raise a child, a village rich with grandparents is one complete with love, wisdom and care. As human mortality rates improve and people live longer, many have the opportunity and privilege to experience rewarding relationships with grandparents, become grandparents, and are grandparents for longer periods. Grandparents are usually seen as nurturers and caregivers. They are given various names derived from different languages and cultures. My grandchildren call me ‘Ma’- a name I gave one of my grandmothers. My husband is called ‘Seeya’- the Sinhala term for grandfather.
I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to experience the love of my grandparents and a great-grandparent well into my adult years. I have precious memories of the values, wisdom and love shared and bestowed upon me. I have also had the great pleasure of seeing my own children experience rewarding relationships, nurturing, love and wisdom from their grandparents and great-grandparents.
As I reminisce over becoming a grandparent myself, I am aware that I am on this journey with many others. Grandparenting is rewarding and healing to the soul. I do not think we are ever prepared for the overwhelming feeling of love and joy that we continue to experience. The outpouring of love for me began from the first time I held each of my grandbabies. I felt that the whole world stopped for a moment and I remember the feeling of joy and unconditional love. These feelings have continued to multiply over the years. My husband and I have found grandparenting one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives and becoming grandparents gave us a renewed purpose in our lives.
We feel so privileged to be able to share the title of grandparent with many who have come before us, who are with us on this journey and will continue this journey after us. Having a day to remember and celebrate grandparents highlights the value of this mutual relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. While becoming a grandparent can stop our world for a moment, grandparents do make the world go around. Happy Grandparents Day!
Jacqueline Ranatunga
Jaqueline is a researcher counsellor, and an educator with a passion for enhancing
the cultivation of wellbeing dispositions in the community.
