Thinking Generationally

Lisa and I managed to squeeze in lunch together yesterday. As I was leaving she was encouraging me to think generationally. I think about this a lot actually. We had been talking specifically about things we want to be as grandparents. Actually we were dreaming of vacation properties, since none of us can afford family vacations. It is easy to wander into my dream world of living in a big cabin next to a lake where all of the kids can come and visit and spend the summers. Then reality crashes in.

I am realizing that how I raise my children today will shape how they think about our family as they grow up and start their own families. I was able to spend weeks during the summers with my grandparents and aunts and uncles growing up. They all lived in the same town, so I could spend a few days with one and then go to the next without being a burden to them. It was also just me and my brother so we were a little more manageable than my crowd. I really want my children to know their grandparents as more than just the people we visit at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We have been able to do that to some extent, and I am happy that our parents want to see us as much as they do. I do sometimes wish we lived in the same town, but for now that is not what God has for us. I am hoping to spend more time this summer at Grandpa and Grandma's. I have them thinking about this, so we will see what pans out.

I am trying to think about what I am doing in my life that will allow my children to feel comfortable being home as they get older. It gets more challenging as you get teens to toddlers all in a relatively small space. The weather doesn't allow us much outside time, so we feel a little cramped. What I don't want is for my older kids to migrate to their friends house in search of privacy and quiet. It makes me sad when I see this happening, so I am trying to give them some time away, but think about how to make our home more inviting for them.

There are many challenges. I try not to get discouraged when I think about all of things that are pulling them away from their families. Our culture is not family friendly. It likes to divide us into demographic groups and cater to us through our peers. We are constantly bombarded with the message that there are generation gaps. There very well can be, but they aren't mandatory. My dad often is worried that my teenage girls won't want to do thing with him, because it isn't cool. I am happy to say that my kids think my dad is cool and love to do things with him. Who wouldn't like to go on a road trip in his new car, or go skiing, or canoe on lakes with their grandpa? His outings have been great for bridging the generation gap.

I think I just worry that there isn't enough of me to go around. I want to go shopping with the girls, but then who is going to watch the toddlers. When I spend a day at a track meet I am torn between timing BK and watching Omega and Nes at the playground. Those are the days I really long for family that is in the same town. Is that going to be possible for my kids? I want to watch their little ones for them while they help out at school. I want to help them make photo albums of their kids. I would love to come take their kids to the park while they go shopping. Okay, now I am taking on worry that is better left for tomorrow.

I am trying to think generationally. I have made some mistakes. I bought a house that does not have generational thinking in it. I have not done a good job laying up skills for them that will be useful in their home. I still think $20 and a trip to Vegas sounds like a good wedding plan. I am hoping to work in some things over the summer. Today I am hard pressed to keep up with this generation. I keep putting things on my 5 year to do list, honestly wondering if it is really the not going to happen before I die list. I guess only God knows that. I'm doing the best I can today.

My blog is part of my thinking generationally. I hope that it isn't completely obsolete by the next generation. I am printing it every year just in case. I was really hoping to post about some of our family stories. I have some good ones that really need to be put down in print somewhere. I meant to do some this morning, but after some technical difficulty I gave it up. I drug out the photo albums that I stole from my dad a few years ago. Look out family, if I ever figure out how to use my scanner you are in big trouble. Every generation is a work in progress. I will have to be satisfied with I can accomplish in mine and keep praying for the next and the next.