The Dallas Morning News recently wrote an article about teachers who no longer ask their students, “Who are your heroes?” Too many students fail to come up with any true heroes as their answer. Boys typically reply with the name of someone who has fame or money or who excels in sports. Add in ‘good looks’ and you have the girls’ list. Kids don’t want to imitate them – they just want fame, money, and beauty.
The good news is that many young people identify their grandparents as heroes as well. The difference is that a grandparent can be a real hero. The ones they identify from television or the cinema are not. As grandparents, you have survived what life has thrown at you and grandchildren instinctively know this even if they don’t know the details of your battles.
You might think you don’t qualify as a hero. After all, you aren’t Ulysses or Joan of Arc. Fortunately, the world doesn’t run on great heroes; it runs on little heroes: men and women who do what is noble, just, courageous and true – every day of their lives. Even more important, it runs on visible, tangible, ongoing heroes. They are the ones who inspire today’s little heroes to desire to be tomorrow’s big heroes.
We need grandparents who encourage tomorrow’s heroes, both small and great.
For Discussion: What stories can you tell your grandchildren about their parents that reveal their heroic and courageous qualities.
For Action: Tell your grandchildren one of those stories the next time you see them. By doing this, you win twice – honoring your own children and helping your grandkids to have models of courage in a dangerous world.
Raise a little hero. Some day he or she might be a big one.
Mike Shaughnessy is the founder of Grandly and the author of The Strategic Grandparent.