Grandma-Hood: Your Children are "Clocking" You...

I thank God for blessing me with this season of Grandma-Hood. There was a time in my younger years when I declared that I would never have children. Now, after more than 40 years of marriage, three "Boyz," and six grand-prize grandchildren later, here I am—and I'm loving every minute of it! Thank God for unanswered prayers.

On my journey of Grandma-Hood, I've discovered that my grandbabies have taught me even more than my children did. I'm not saying that as an insult to the "Boyz." It's simply the truth.

Many adults make the following comments, "This is a different generation of kids," "Times are different now," or "Technology has changed our children's lives." Those statements are true. But if adults are not intentionally engaged in the lives of their children, they'll miss one of life's greatest blessings—the privilege of growing up with them.

One of the biggest mistakes we make as adults is giving children unlimited access to television, technology, and cell phones. These things may seem harmless, and many times we use them as substitutes for our absence. What we often fail to realize is that what children hear and watch plays a significant role in shaping their character, values, and understanding of reality.

Technology can never replace the physical presence of a loving adult. A cell phone can never replace the voice of encouragement, the comfort of a hug, or the undivided attention of a parent or grandparent. If we want this generation of children to remain emotionally healthy, we must engage with them. Here are a few simple ways to get started.

Set healthy boundaries for technology.

• Establish time limits for technology, whether you're together or they're spending time alone. Warning: They may give you an attitude, but don't let that distract you. Stay consistent with your expectations. Sometimes an attitude is simply an attempt to get you to lower your standards.

• Set time boundaries for yourself. Trust me, your children will clock you before you clock them! If we're asking them to put their phones down, they should see us doing the same. The greatest lesson we teach isn't through our rules—it's through our example.

  
  

Spend quality time together.

• Choose a special movie night that's just for the two of you. No neighbors. No friends. Just you and your child. Those one-on-one moments create opportunities to learn more about each other. Let them choose the movie—as long as it's appropriate!

• Plan a dinner date with your children. If your budget is limited like mine has been, get creative! Turn the evening into your own family "Cooking Show" and let them help prepare the meal. You'll be surprised how much conversation happens around a cutting board or stirring a pot.

  
  

The bottom line is this... ENGAGE! Don't become an Auto Pilot parent. Our children don't need AI-generated engagement. They need authentic, intentional engagement from the people who love them most.

One day, they probably won't remember every show they watched or every app they downloaded. But they'll remember who was there. Your presence today becomes one of their greatest memories tomorrow.

Written by Sandra Kelley (8/6/2027)