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Many of the essential roles that grandparents have always played in the lives of their grandchildren ring true today. Grandparents provide comfort in turbulent times. They take us on adventures and share fun experiences with us. Grandparents are the keepers of our heritage and family history. They help us discover our roots, and who we are becoming in our development. Grandparents model behaviors and values that grandchildren tend to emulate and develop within themselves. They can be our first heroes and our longest, most cherished friendships. Grandparents are essential influences in the lives of their grandchildren, and now, more than ever before, families need influential grandparents who recognize and fully embrace their grandchildren's potential.
 
But the world has changed…
 
Today’s young families face an increasingly harsh environment for raising children. In addition to the traditional stresses of raising children, parents are struggling just to get by. Rising costs of living fueled by inflation, massive layoffs and high home prices are keeping parents up at night. For most households, both parents need to work full-time just to get by. They struggle finding safe and affordable childcare. In addition to the more traditional dangers of drugs like cocaine, meth, and heroin, they face ever-emerging threats of lethal drugs like fentanyl, molly, and a whole host of others. Parents are fighting to protect their children from online dangers such as cyberbullying and sexual predators. Once thought to be a predictable path to success, families are rethinking traditional higher education paths that often saddle their children with massive amounts of debt. Oh, and let’s not forget to add in the COVID years, when parents, in addition to trying to keep their children and themselves healthy, suddenly had to juggle their child’s schooling at home when schools shut down, all the while trying to work full-time and keep their jobs. The past decade has taken a toll on our families, especially our children. And we are just beginning to see the effects of the trauma as evidenced by a raging mental health crises, increased overdoses and suicides of our young people. Our children...our grandchildren.

If your blood pressure didn’t elevate after reading that, read it again.

Now, more than ever before, your grandchildren need you in their lives. They need your support, encouragement, and love. They need you to be intentional and actively engaged in their lives as an influential grandparent.
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Will you answer the call? And how does a grandparent become more influential, anyway?
 
Reflecting on some of the most influential role models in my life, who happen to be my grandparents, there’s a common thread that pulls together their many different backgrounds and personalities - they were all lifelong learners. They were always actively engaged in learning something new about the world around them, and most importantly, about the people for whom they cared most, including us grandkids.

Through different approaches and methods, my grandparents consistently poured into my life. What seldom gets recognized, however, is the fact that the only reason they were able to share their wisdom with me in the first place, is because they had first been a student themselves.

The most influential grandparents know that it’s essential to fill their own cup first in order to abundantly pour into the lives of others. One of the best ways to do this is by committing to being a lifelong learner. Here are some quick reasons why:

It keeps you aligned with loved ones. How much do you know about your grandchildren’s hopes, skills, dreams and struggles? Are you actively learning about their life? One way to measure the depth, and often strength, of a relationship is to gauge how much one person knows about the other.
 
It’s fulfilling. Learning something new can give you a whole new perspective and appreciation for life and the people around you.
 
Cultivate new friendships. Learning is better together, especially when you meet someone else who shares the same interests - such as how to become a more influential grandparent.
 
It’s good for your health. Learning something new can energize you and keep you from becoming bored (and boring)! Studies show that active learning helps keep your mind sharp and healthy.
 
Learning leads to significance. When you gain valuable wisdom throughout your life, you can amplify it to make a difference in the lives of others. How are you using the knowledge and lessons learned in your life to help your grandchildren grow? Have you cultivated a relationship and experiences that continue to help them long after you’re gone?
 
I created GrandparentsAcademy.com, the world’s first and only online academy for grandparents, to help intentional and caring grandparents like you continue to learn, grow, and cultivate meaningful, lasting relationships with your grandchildren. Please take a look at our full catalog here.
 
Remember, your grandchildren need you now more than ever to be at your best. To show them how to thrive and that there is hope for a vibrant future. To be influential in the best ways. Don’t forget, the most influential grandparents are students themselves.

Answer the call.

Come join the fun, meet new grandparent friends, and grow meaningful legacies together! Learn more now!

With gratitude,
~Aaron

Inspired by his grandparents, Aaron created GrandparentsAcademy.com – the first and only online academy designed exclusively for grandparents. Since 2011, GrandparentsAcademy.com

has reached millions worldwide, becoming the “go to” destination for lifelong learners who are over the moon and back for their grandchildren. Resources include over a dozen masterclasses taught by world-class experts, one of a kind online summits (such as “Grandparents Week” and “Reconciliation Summit for Alienated Grandparents”), as well as “proven to connect” social posts that have been shared over half a million times and enjoyed by thousands of families. For more  information and fun, free weekly downloads designed for intentional grandparents, visit GrandparentsAcademy.com.