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Grandparents – Pass it on!
As parents, we spend years raising our children as best we can, but as grandparents, our responsibilities
change. With the benefits of time and experience, Sun Rays wanted to know: what have you taught your
grandchildren? We received some incredible responses, and have shared some of our favorites here!
Blake, grandson of Mark Elley A LOVE OF SPORTS AND COOKING
From the first time I held him in my
arms I knew he would be my “little
buddy.” Now 10 years old, Blake and
I have a special relationship. He was so
special, my wife and I changed our plans to
retire in Italy when he was born. We began
receiving little notes from him (even though
he was a baby) that said “Grandpa, you
don’t want to leave me, do you?”
We didn’t leave. One of my loves is playing
sports, which I have gifted to him. Every time I go over to see
him he asks “Grandpa what do you want to play?” We throw
the baseball and football, shoot baskets, kick the soccer ball
and swim in the pool. He plays baseball, flag football, runs
triathlons, plays tennis and golf among many things he does.
We support him and rarely miss a competition. He actually
listens to me when I give him advice. He has come to watch me
play softball here in Sun City. He gives me help back.
When he was a toddler he used to watch me make Italian food.
Now his specialty is making margherita pizzas from scratch.
He loves to knead the dough and punch it down. He places the
tomato, cheese and basil on it and now has begun to toss it to
thin out the crust. During career day at his school he wore a
chef’s outfit and talked on being a chef. This summer he has
enrolled in a cooking class where he will make desserts from
all over the world. We can’t wait for his gelato.
Mark Elley
FAMILY HISTORY TRUTH, WITH HUMOR
I’ve always believed that children deserve a straight
My grandfather on my mother’s side was a Washington D.C. answer. One day, after answering her question, my then
policeman. He taught me honor. My grandmother on my dad’s seven-year-old granddaughter said to me, “I knew you
side taught me thrift. Both grandmothers taught me love, would know the answer, because you are like God - you
kindness and caring. My dad gave me a wild and wonderful know everything!”
heritage - my great, great grandfather was William Anderson My husband, however, loves to pull their leg. This
“Devil Anse” Hatfield of the Hatfield and McCoy feud fame, same granddaughter shared that her class at school
and it is through our history that we are taught about the had just completed a field trip to Marine World in San
human struggle. Antonio. She said, “Did you know there are four kinds of
dolphins?” “Yep,” said Grampa. “You got your sad ones,
Having learned from my wonderful family, I am passing on to your happy ones…” We were all cracking up before he
my grandchildren the kindness and caring, the honor as well could finish naming the other two.
as the importance of thriftiness. But I think the most important Eileen Koskie
thing I can teach them is LOVE and the importance of family
and family history, giving them a foundation on which to learn ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
who they are and where they come from.
Sharron Dunning
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