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Bonding With Helping Hands
Volunteering With Grandkids
By Sue Poremba
If the grandparent is already performing community service, she may want to invite her teenage grandchild to join her, at least once. It may not be the grandchild's ultimate community service choice, but it will allow the grandparent to share something important in her life with her grandchild. In turn, if the grandchild is involved in a volunteer activity, the grandparent should make the same effort to learn about the teenager's interests. Sharing values does not always have to come down from the elders.
Steven Rothenberg says whatever the choice is, grandparents and grandchildren have the chance to share their individual abilities.
"Teenagers might need more direction, while the older people can't do the same type of physical work their grandkids can," says Rothenberg. "A lot of partnering goes on."
"Volunteering brings people together," says Donna Butts. What awkwardness that might otherwise be causing tension between the grandparent and the teenage grandchild disappears as they begin to bond over a shared interest.
And as they work to strengthen their own relationship, the grandparent and grandchild end up improving the lives of many other people.