Love, Trust. Appreciation, and Mutual Admiration
Imagine if you
will what a normal day might be like in well-adjusted married couple’s life. First allow me to set up some
background. We are not much different
than any other couple, but how we live our partnership (married life) may well
be as different as day and night from anyone else.
As an example
of love, trust and sharing, only one of us worked while the other raised the
children (to middle school age). This
was a choice that included some unspoken sacrifices. I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have
our needs met (shelter, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, basic
entertainment, etc.). We even managed a
getaway (budget) vacation. While the
kids were growing up we managed to treat them to a vacation in Southern
California (Disney, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm) every other
year. It wasn’t affordable, but we made
it a priority because we the parents had been raised without vacations. As a sacrifice we didn’t buy a new car as often
as we might have liked. As a couple we seldom
ate out or went to a movie. Besides the
job, we operated a business that kept us busier than we wanted to be. When we married and decided to raise a family
we gave up “our life” attitude and exchanged it for the family’s life with
emphasis on the children. The children
are all grown up, with children of their own.
They are all healthy and happy.
Back to the
future, and a typical day. The alarm
goes off at 5:15 am. We both start
working by 7 am. Breaks have to be
purposely taken because the pace all day long is fast and furious (wouldn’t
have it any other way). My title is
Grandpa, Activity Director numerous responsibilities fall under that
title. Since early retirement a few
years back, I handle approximately 75 percent of the grandchildren’s oversight
during the day. Chauffeur, chef,
nutritionist, wardrobe supervisor, Entertainment director, Summer school
teacher, and Director of Purchasing (in charge of laundry and dish washing). Whatever the children want, I’m the go to guy.
Activity Center
With the time
that’s left I operate the family business.
The family business pays handsomely, but the other job has a value of
love and appreciation that couldn’t be matched with monetary compensation. If I was forced to give up one of the things
that I do, it wouldn’t be a contest at all.
I will assist with my grandchildren for as long as my participation adds
value to their little lives. My wife
comes home from a fast paced corporate job, sometimes stressed most often not
so much. Her duties include over seeing personnel, policies, and budgets, and while she enjoys it, I know that she
would trade with me in a minute.
She has done
both jobs, the first, while raising our children, and now she is enjoying her
career. I have done the corporate gig
most of my life, and now I do what she did only with the grandchildren. I never for a minute thought she had the
easier job back then, and now I know that to do it right requires many skills,
and lots of patience. Having shared the
experiences gives us a better understanding and appreciation for each other.
Peace and quiet at last
I don’t mind
being a kept man. We both contribute on
the financial front, but for now she is the designated bread winner, and I
appreciate her and miss her during the day.
She often will text me during the day to tell me that I am the greatest
grandpa in the world, At the end of her
day she will come home and invite me to go out for dinner, entertainment or
just a drive. She knows what a day is
like at home with all those super energetic little granddaughters.
I’ve had numerous
job offers to return to the workforce, but money won’t buy me away from my
present position. Besides, I’ve been as
high as CEO of a corporation, how could they possibly top Grandpa, Activity
Director? The best is yet to come…………
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