I am probably one of few thirty years old who can say they are lucky enough to have 4 living and still very healthy grandparents.  All four of them have always been very generous with me in lots of different ways and have impacted on my life greatly.  Here’s some ways how.

I was reading a little while ago about raising resilient children.  One of the things they said was that having rituals was very important.  My grandparents on my mum’s side really gave me that when I was growing up.  I remember for every birthday in the family we would always get together.  My grandmother would make it feel very special by cooking yummy food and setting the table really nicely.  When the cake came out it would be decorated with candles of course but also a miniature figure of Bambi.  Bambi was a part of everyone’s birthday and we were very fond of her.  Little things like that make us feel connected to and part of a family.  Even though they are small I think they are very important.  We also had Christmas rituals and special foods. It was always the same but I loved it.  My grandparents also hired a house most years up in Shoal Bay which was always one of the highlights of my year.  I would look forward to it the whole year round and I am grateful to them for that.

My grandparents on my dad’s side had 8 children and now have 17 grandchildren and 1 great grand child.  As someone who thinks they’ll only have one I think that is pretty impressive.  Despite there being so many people they are very good at making you feel part of the family exactly as you are.  I wouldn’t say we stay in touch much when I am not in Tamworth but when I am there it feels like home.  They are always interested and listen well to what I’ve been doing good parts and hard parts as well.  I really value that.