Time with Grandparents

Hi,

My parents are living in Penang, Malaysia and we make an effort to visit them at least once a year or they would visit us in Singapore too.

My mum-in-law lives in Toa Payoh and we used to drop by for dinner at least twice a week after work and school. It used to be a meeting place too for Jason to catch up with his cousins. Since my mum-in-law has stopped cooking for us, we only catch up during the weekends at her place on a fortnightly basis.

I am keen that Jason have sufficient contact time with his grandparents as that what they look forward to; ie seeing their grandchildren. Also, by showing how we care for our parents, I hope he will learn our family values and will care for us too when we are at that age.

Children learn by example, seriously. So it is important that we cultivate such family values into them.

Honestly, as Jason grew older into his teens and sometimes the timings to meet his cousins at my mum-in-law's place may not be feasible. He would feel bored and rather be at home; eg playing his PC games etc....

However, I explained to him that the grandparents look forward to seeing him and they might leave us anytime so we should make an effort to spend time with them; even if it is just an hour only.

Today, he is receptive to the fortnightly visit to see his grandmother even if his cousins could not turn up.

Similarly, last year when I have to go back often to Penang to take my father to the hospital for his follow-up on his colon cancer recovery, it could be quite boring to be taking short holidays to the same place, Penang!

But I am glad that my family went back with me most of the time unless there was a conflict with work or school schedule. I also tried to make it more interesting by staying at the Penang beach resort for a night or two.

Here are a few photos of Jason with his grandparents :







We took my father to China as it was his wish to visit China at least once before it is too late.










We visited Penang and my father took us to a seafood restaurant by a river in the mainland.












My wife and Jason with his grandmother at her 80th birthday.












So please find the time to connect with your children with their grandparents. This is also family bonding time too.


Happy Parenting....


David