Dear Reader,

If you follow More Than Grand on Facebook or Instagram, you may have seen the photos I shared last weekend from the trip to Europe that Pops and I took with friends. We had one amazing day after another, and confirmed that I truly love traveling. It was definitely worth all the work I did before we left to schedule all my emails, blogs and social media posts: I was truly able to step away from the computer—I left my laptop at home!

But I didn’t step away from grandparenting completely.

First of all, we encountered many, many grandparents on our trip. They were easy to spot in the souvenir shops, buying trinkets that showed Grandma and Grandpa were thinking of the grandkids while they were gone. In one museum gift store, I overheard a disappointed grandmother who couldn’t believe they didn’t sell children’s t-shirts. I found this curious: The shop was full of unique gifts for children, but she had her heart set on a t-shirt they’d soon outgrow.

I didn’t get my grandchildren any of the enticing things in that shop. I’ve shared before that I try to keep random gifts to a minimum. Other than birthdays and Christmas, I try hard to keep from adding to the clutter. If I buy something outside of those occasions, it has to be useful and worth my money. (Books somehow don’t count!)

Of course, I thought of my grandchildren often. I took lots of photos that I can’t wait to share with them when I see them. I found a gift for each of them that met my criteria (and fit in my suitcase!). And I sent a postcard to each grandchild from every country we visited, with a message that tied into things they are interested in.

One of the things I want to do as a grandparent is to spark their curiosity about the world around them. It’s part of my Grand Vision:

My purpose as a grandparent is:

• To support my own children as parents in whatever way is needed
• To teach my grandchildren to explore the world through books, birds’ nests and travel to other cultures
• To instill the importance of family by conveying how important they are to me

Knowing what my purpose as a grandparent helps me be intentional in what I do. It also reigns me in sometimes, like when I’m surrounded by grandparents buying souvenirs and I’m tempted to join in. Having a grandparent vision statement sounds over the top, but it’s an amazingly practical way to make sure your actions as a grandparent align with your values and goals.

Have you set your intention as a grandparent yet? Your Grand Vision can help! It may not help you avoid buying trinkets in souvenir shops, but it will help you create a more meaningful relationship with your grandchildren.

Warm regards,
DeeDee

P. S. What did I end up buying them? Would you believe washcloths? A shop in a small town in Germany had soft, high-quality washcloths with fairy tale scenes on them, and I couldn’t resist such an unexpected (and useful!) gift.

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DeeDee Moore | Founder, More Than Grand LLC | morethangrand.com