Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I saw this quote about being a grandparent and it really resonated with me. It is apparent to me that we are different people in the role of a grandparent than we were as a parent.

“Grandchildren give us a second chance to do things better because they bring out the best in us.”

Parents are busy building a life, a career, a future. They shoulder all the responsibility for their kids. Life is hectic, busy, and often overwhelming. As a grandparent, our years of experience, slower pace lifestyle, and wisdom from making our own mistakes, allows us to just enjoy grandchildren. It is great role to play. I wish I would have had this same perspective when I was raising our children. I think it would have made me a better parent for sure.

In honor of the joys of being a grandparent, let me share some 4 & 5 year old soccer stories that have warmed my heart and made me laugh, and love a little boy even more!

My grandson Thomas plays in a 4/5 year old rec. soccer league. This is his second year playing. Last year it was more of a social event for him and the best part of the game were the snacks afterward. But this year, he started getting it a little bit.

Three weekends ago, he got a break away and scored his first goal. As he ran back to the midline, I heard him say to his coach, “I can’t believe I scored a goal!” He was so excited and he went on to score a second goal in the game.

The following week he scored two more goals. After the game, I said “Thomas, you are getting better every game.” He looked at me and excitedly said “I know!”

In the last game of the season, Thomas had a pretty easy chance to score and he missed it. Based on the contorted look on his face, he was not happy. Which was a good thing. He was getting competitive and wanting to succeed. He went on to score four goals in the game. As he ran back to the midline after his second goal, he proclaimed out loud “winner, winner, chicken dinner” with a huge smile on his face. The joy he was feeling was awesome to watch.

Thomas is my buddy. I see his dad in him and I see a lot of me in him. The best way I can be a good dad in the future is to be a good grandparent. I still remember what an important role my father played in my children’s lives and how much I appreciated his love for my kids and his perspective on parenting. I recognized that his relationship with them was different than mine. He could be more of their friend, but still command their respect. The main thing that I also noticed was that he was very “present” with them. No distractions. Nothing was more important than that moment with them. I try to remind myself of that valuable lesson as much as I can.

All I wish for Thomas, his brother Maverick, and any future grandchildren is that they live a life that is genuine and their own. Grandchildren remind us of all the opportunities and possibilities that are presented to the young. Looking back, we know we should have taken more chances, believed in ourselves more, travelled more, not sweated the little things, and laughed and loved more. Age provides perspective as it robs us of time.

Well, if I had one wish in this god forsaken world, kids

It'd be that your mistakes will be your own

Yeah, your sins would be your own

Bruce Springsteen - Long Time Coming