By Carol Hutcheson

I was excitedly making preparations to travel out of state to help my youngest daughter with her newborn baby. For me, helping with new grandchildren has been one of the greatest rewards of grandmotherhood. Because of work commitments, my husband wasn’t often available when other grandchildren arrived. But now retired, he didn’t want to be left out of the fun. “Can’t I go too?”

A help or a hindrance?

Some may think having another person around would just add to the stress. But that depends on what Grandpa would do. I knew my husband well enough to know that he would be a great help rather than a hindrance. Besides, I love his company. “Wonderful,” I said. “It will be great having you there.”

Where’s Grandpa’s expertise?

Obviously a grandfather isn’t going to have much experience with womanly concerns, and that is not where he needs to concern himself. If a man is needed in that area, that’s the job for Dad. This is a time for Grandpa to fill in the gaps and give a degree of attention and service that couldn’t be given otherwise. All grandpa needs to do is play the role of super grandpa.

Let Grandpa become the ‘Director of Recreation’

When there are other children in the family, Grandpa can be of great service in keeping the older kids entertained. Just getting the kids out of the house so Mom and Dad can sleep and Grandma can keep up with the cooking and chores is a great benefit.

Keeping older children from feeling displaced

Sometimes older children feel displaced by all the attention given to the new arrival. Here is a wonderful chance for Grandpa to show the “old timers” that they are cherished and deserving of attention too.

This is the perfect time, depending on age, to take the grandkids to the zoo or a movie, or to play catch in the backyard. It’s a time to read to the children, to play blocks, to play board games, or simply to share experience. Now Grandma, don’t get jealous. You can play too.

Let Grandpa be the “gopher”

Inevitably, something is always needed at the store or pharmacy. Grandpa can be a life-saver is picking up a prescription or a missing ingredient for the meal. He can do errands for Dad or run kids to lessons or games. All he needs is a list of clear instructions, and you’ve got your own personal butler or chauffeur.

Let Grandpa be the fix-it man

Another place Grandpa can be of benefit is lending a helping hand with repairing or building things around the house. Perhaps Dad has been waiting for a chance to do some work but needed an extra pair of hands or experienced advice.

Whether it’s putting together the swing set or re-wiring the light switch in the bedroom, having a grandpa around can be very useful. Grandpa needs to wait for the instructions from the Father before he tackles a project, but then grab the chance to prove himself a very good handy-man.

Grandpa’s visit says “I love you.”

Having grandpa on the scene can be a win-win situation for everyone. If everyone remembers that the purpose of the Grandparents’ visit is to help Mom recuperate and the rest of the family accommodate the new family member the visit will be pleasant and meaningful.

Everything that is done should be done with the family’s well-being in mind. That being said, grandma and grandpa’s visit is the way to say to grownup children and grandchildren how much they are loved.

Having both grandparents there to help can make baby’s arrival a happy time that the family will long remember. <<

Carol Hutcheson is a retired high school English teacher. She claims her greatest accomplishment lies in rearing six successful children and being grandma to eighteen grandchildren. Her partner in that enterprise is her husband, Don, to whom she has been married forty-two years. She can be reached at Carol@LetLifeIn.com