Being a Proactive Grandfather ─ How to Make a Difference

Statistics tell us that male Baby Boomers probably have another twenty to thirty good years ahead of us, and most have grandchildren. But how much time and mental energy will we expend on these living legacies? How much will we prioritize them, and how proactive and deliberate will we be as granddads?

New York Times #1 bestselling author, Richard Eyre encourages grandfathers to ask themselves a very important question: what kind of grandfather will you be? Will you be a “disengaged grandfather,” who downsizes to an adults-only condo in Sun City by a golf course and rarely sees his grandkids? Will you be a “limited grandfather,” a “supportive grandfather,” or—best of all—will you be a “proactive grandfather”?

Only when we choose to be proactive does grandfathering become effective, consequential, and truly fun. At this level, you deliberately ponder the needs you can uniquely fulfill, and you set goals and plans to enhance your grandchildren’s lives (in concert and in teamwork with the goals and stewardship of their parents). This approach will stretch and test you, but it will also reward you with levels of fulfillment, well-being, love, and peace otherwise unobtainable.

Richard and Linda Eyre are New York Times #1 bestselling authors whose writing career has spanned four decades and whose books have sold in the millions. They have appeared on virtually all major national talk shows, including Oprah and Today, and have seen their books translated into a dozen languages. They write a syndicated weekly newspaper column and currently spend most of their time traveling and speaking to audiences throughout the world on families, parenting, and life-balance (and trying to keep up with their twenty-six grandchildren). The Eyres’ vision statement is “Fortify families by celebrating commitment, popularizing parenting, bolstering balance, and validating values.” The Eyres live in Park City, Utah. -