Coping With Having a Bad Grandpa Day – Brian’s Blog

I love my grand kids more than anything. They make my life quite an adventure, and although things can get crazy I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I try my best to be a good grandpa, but sometimes, in spite of how hard we try, we have bad moments. I had that just the other day with my oldest grandson Zander.

Zander is a wonderful young boy who is full of energy and questions. He has reached the age where he is learning to say "no" and "I don't want to." What a joy that is. Just the other day I was trying to give him a lecture about listening to adults and doing what he is told. I told him to look into my eyes when I talked to him so I knew he was listening. He told me "my eyes get googly when I try to look at you when you are mad." Do you know how hard it was to keep a straight face after that? I then told him to stop fidgeting and listen. He then wound up and punched me in the stomach. I got upset and spanked his butt and caught myself saying "you don't hit." The irony of that statement smacked me right in the gut. I was just sickened with myself. Here I am doing to him exactly what I am telling him we don't do. I should have just sat him in a corner and walked away, but I was caught in an instinctive incorrect reaction.

I screwed up that day and hope I learned my lesson as much as I hope he did. I love that little guy and together maybe we can teach each other to be better people. I am not perfect, and have my failures, but I have to be very careful that my actions equal what my mouth is saying. Sorry Zander. I will be a better teacher. I love you