If you are a grandparent, it’s time to get busy. I have been a grandparent for forty-six years. I have sixteen grandkids and sixteen great-grandkids, one of which is in college. You might say that I’m a pretty experienced grandparent.
My grandchildren and great-grandchildren are very different from my age group, the Silent Generation, and equally different from the Baby Boomer Generation.
For example, they are totally without prejudice. They believe that people should be judged on their ability and character, not on their race or sexual preference. Their grammar is better than mine, I will never forget a couple of years ago I was at my ranch with my granddaughter, Courtney, who lives in Australia. She was there with her first-born son who was then 2 ½ years old and his name is Lachlan. I was sitting on the back porch at the Ranch House on a Sunday morning and Lachlan walked by. I said, “Lachlan, did anybody catch any fish this morning at the big lake?” Lachlan said, “None that I’m aware of, Papa.”
I have another granddaughter, Kelly, who is a department head at Warner brothers in Hollywood. She is also on the worldwide board of directors of UNICEF. High performance at a low age is characteristic of grandkids and great-grandkids today. My grandson, David, is a high-ranking executive at AIG. My grandson by marriage, Adam, owns his own construction business. My granddaughter, Elizabeth, is an assistant to Texas Senator Ted Cruz in Washington, D.C.
I am 90 years old. I am so old they’ve canceled my blood type. But, I know history will treat me kindly because most of those who can dispute what I’ve said are dead and gone. No matter your age, if you have grandchildren, it is your responsibility to have at least one life-changing conversation with them.
In my lifetime I have been the recipient of several life-changing conversations. They all occurred before I was 21. The first occurred with my father when I was 17. On a car-trip to Dallas, he told me that to succeed in business and life I had to have guts and determination. He did not means guts to get into a fight, he meant guts to make a pitch, guts to speak up, guts to ask for something highly favorable to me, guts to tell people something they don’t want to hear, like firing someone.
The second life-changing conversation occurred two months later when the Dean of Brownsville Jr. College called me into his office. He said, “Welcome, you are a natural leader and I don’t think you even realize it.” He went on to explain what he meant. I had never thought of myself as a leader. A month later I ran for President of the Student Body and was elected. Two weeks later I was elected President of two out of the three Clubs on campus (I was not even a member of the third club). Since that day, in every situation, I presume I am the one who is supposed to organize everybody and be the leader. Two more life-changing conversations have been with the person who is I’m married to (we are now in our 70th year of marriage).
Every grandparent should have a life-changing conversation with each of his grandchildren. Because if you don’t, then who will?
You can talk about some of the values of the Silent Generation (my generation): Take personal responsibility for your life. Be frugal. Be humble. Love. Be loyal. Work hard. Embrace Challenge. Don’t make life so complicated.
Or, here are some I’ve shared with my grandchildren from my speech, “How to Succeed in Business and Life by Avoiding My Mistakes:” Never lie to your doctor. When you have made your point, stop talking. Admit when you are wrong. Remember, all guns are loaded. Give credit, take blame. When entrusted with a secret, keep it. Always keep your word. It is never too late for an apology. Don’t litter. Don’t ever ask a woman if she is pregnant. And, most important, never, ever overreact. I’m sure you have your own mistakes that your grandchildren will benefit from knowing.
You can talk about things that you wish you had done. You can talk about what they can do to be more successful.
I can’t tell you how much I admire my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They are all avid readers. They are all smart. They are absolutely unbiased. They are articulate, and, in my opinion, they are all good looking.
We, as grandparents have a responsibility to help each of our grandchildren and great-grandchildren have a great life. Get busy.
Photo courtesy of author
