My father wasn’t just the best Dad, but he set the bar high for Grandfathers too. (And just to let you know I’m not the only one saying that when I tweeted out my previous post, one of my nephews responded: “He was a pretty awesome Granddad too!” ) So without further ado, here is why my Father was the best Grandfather:
- Dad loved children, not just his, but his Grandkids too. He would play with them for hours. Need someone to build legos with you? Check. Need someone to drive Matchbox cars around the floor? Check. Need someone to play cards with you? Check. Need someone to roll you around the house as fast as he can? Check. (If you look at the above photo, my son is sitting on his Grandfather’s lap and he is in a wheelchair. Who needs a wagon, when Grandpa can wheel you around himself!)
- Be willing to do the “impossible” for your Grandchildren. My father crawled out of his wheelchair, crawled to the stairs and sat on the bottom stair. And then using his arms only, pushed himself up those stairs one stair at a time. He’d never tried it before, but at the top of those stairs was his Grandson, begging him to come upstairs to play, encouraging him by yelling “You can do it, Grandpa!”
- Having a birthday? Need a cake? My father was a CIA trained chef (the school, not the agency,) who specialized in cake decorating. He could make the most delicate flowers out of buttercream. Long before cake decorating became a thing on TV, he was well known for his ability to copy any Bridal shower card onto a cake. But for his Grandchildren, who needs delicate flowers? Instead, fire trucks and spaceships were required and delivered. My son would deliver his cake request, complete with pictures, a month in advance—just to make sure Grandpa had plenty of time to plan for it.
- Grandpa was also famous for taking his Grandkids on trips. Around the state were most of the trips: Sailboats on the Sound, miniature golf anywhere in the state, Kent Falls, and every McDonald’s the Grandkids wanted to go to. But he also went farther afield, too. He took two Grandkids to the Aberdeen Proving Ground, several to NYC at Christmas time and took my son to Battleship Cove in Fall River. My father was in a wheelchair at that time, so couldn’t go inside the ships and subs instead my mother took him. But my father sat in the shade and waited for his Grandson to come up and tell him all about what he’d seen—he didn’t need to go himself, years ago he’d already taken two other Grandkids through those same boats.
What does any of this prove? It proves we were all loved by one of the greatest. A man who put his children and his grandchildren to the top of his list (well, second behind our mother.) That’s how it should be for everyone. Sadly that doesn’t always happen.
Oh wow…he sounds AMAZING! I’m so glad you and your family got to have him in your lives 🙂
Yes he was amazing and all of his Grandchildren were lucky. He had 10 with my son being the youngest.
Sounds like one cool dude! Since any male authority figure in my life was a complete douche I didn’t get many “granddad” moments as a child. Although my grandma’s were pretty damn awesome!
I’m glad you had pretty damn awesome Grandmas….usually they come that way. Or at least that’s what I’m going to tell any future Grandchildren.
He sounds like a lovely man. Grandparents are such important people in children’s lives. Unfortunately, I never had any and my children and lost all of their grandparents by the time my eldest was 5. I’m making sure I’m a loving, caring and good role model for my grandson. #blogsharelearn Sue from Sizzling Towards Sixty.
Unfortunately, my last Grandparent had died by the time I was two, so I never really got to experience that relationship either. My son was lucky, he had his Grandfather until he was 10 and still has his Grandmother. He is now 29 and she is 96.
I agree with your statement: this is how it should be for everyone. I didn’t have a good father. The first one was a cheat and a drunk and the second (step-father) was sexually abusive. That said, I still cherish my grandfather, an honest, hardworking man who made up for all the rest who weren’t worthy. Your dad sounds like an amazing man. What a wonderful way to honor him by sharing your memories. Thank you.
That’s horrible, and I’m so sorry that you had to go through that and so glad that your Grandfather was there for you. Both of my Grandfathers had already died before I was born, so I never had that kind of relationship.
He does sound like a great granddad. That’s the kind I aspire to be when the time comes too.
If you aspire to be….you will be.
I hope so! 🙂
What a wonderful grandfather, indeed! It’s amazing how much patience grandparents can have with their grandchildren and how important that bond is.
It is amazing. My father had so much patience, something that I didn’t quite get.
What an amazing grandfather! I love to read these stories. Mine was a bit of a monster but I revel in the positive tales from those who have enjoyed the best and I adore watching how brilliantly Hubby has taken on the role. Dropping in from #blogsharelearn.
After taking some time to wipe away the tears and give the memories their appropriate time to cherish, I will say that as one of the grandchildren mentioned in this beautiful post I was so fortunate to have my Grandpa there as a teacher, a patriarch, a role model and a profound influence for so many years. Battleship Cove, Gettysburg, Fort Ticonderoga, Aberdeen, Niagara Falls, New York City, Washington D.C….The list goes on and on. My Grandmother of course has to be given equal due here (she rocks too) but the man was equally as impressive as the destinations he drove us to. To this day, I have never met a better man, and trust me I have met plenty of good men. And yes, we knew every McDonalds location in New England from those weekend drives!
I have spent my entire adult life failing miserably at living up to the last words i whispered into his ear when he left this earth and the limitations of physical life for eternal health and life with God. I only promised to be half the man he had been, I figured that if I gave 110% of myself I might somehow make good on the light Grandpa brought to every room, the happiness he created in every environment, the wisdom he imparted on person, and the commitment to family he engrained in us all. I say proudly and with teary eyes that I couldn’t be any prouder to have grown up with such an amazing man to idolize, I just wish that he were still here although I know that’s merely selfishness.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my father, he’s a great man in his own right, but comparing the two wouldn’t be fair, and my dad would be the first to admit it! My Grandfather built the home my Grandmother still lives in literally with is bare hands upon returning from the Navy at the end of World War Two. He worked several jobs to support his family, while educating himself and finally settling on culinary arts. Yes, the birthday cake stories are true; I can personally attest to several unique designs for both my brother and I that were equally as delicious as they were works of visual art.
Thanks for allowing me to touch that sensitive place in my heart where admiration meets sadness, and where pride, faith and love can give us a lifetime of memories and a part to play as a witness to such a profound legacy.
Nephew you touch my heart and had Chris and I tearing up.
These two comments are lovely <3
Oh, how fortunate for your kids to have a granddad such as theirs. My own father is so wonderful, but he is very, very distracted with the cares of the world, and unfortunately, that robs him of many precious moments with his grandchildren. I hope to be more emotionally present to my grandkids.
Your grandkids will be so lucky to have you in their lives. Fortunately, my son had my father because his own father was not present (even when he was in the same room with him.)
What a lovely post!! He sounds like an amazing amazing grandfather.
Aren’t grandfather’s the best? I do not know how my father would have been with my kids, but I do know my own grandfather and the stories his kids tell me. I know how amazing he was to me, compared to the great father he was to him. Grandfathers are straight up magical. <3
I never knew my grandfathers. But my dad certainly blazed a path. If you read through these comments one of his grandson’s replied to affirm what I wrote.
What a fabulous grandfather! I never knew my grandparents and neither did my children. I think that sometimes we focus so much on all that grandmothers do that we forget that there are some loving and wonderful grandfathers as well. Really enjoyed your post Jennifer!
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
He sounds an awful lot like my Grandfather. His grandchildren are so lucky!
His grandchildren were lucky. Some more so than others. My son was only 10 when his Grandfather died, but the oldest grandchild was 39 the time.