Where’s My Job Description?

I’ve worked in information technology, finance, human resources, and even customer service, I have had job titles from the mundane to the most powerful. Now, with no job posting, a new role has been thrust upon me. What are the job duties? Somewhere there should be a grandparent job description template, duties and responsibilities or at least an administrative assistant to support me along the way.

I know I had 9 months to prepare for the role. Now I find that as I speak to other family members in this same grandparent or great grandparent position, the day to day job specifications are each unique in their own way. What specific skills do I need to make the transition? What am I supposed to “do”? With every new role I had throughout my career there was a clear written job description, and that description included clearly defined roles, expectations and goals.

When my first grandbaby, Lucas was born, no one handed me the grandparent manual. My mother and grandmother’s were no longer with me so I searched out other relatives only to find out that there isn’t one. Hmmm, I guess writing a job description just might be the start of a book idea…but I digress. Since there is no “how-to” book that I can find that tells me what my job is or even if there is a job, I’ve moved into foreign territory for someone that has always knew the expectations.

So, new grandparents out there, or veteran grandparents, how did you define your job?

While I wait for your responses, I started to formulate my plans and decided that this new role was going to give me a personal re-boot. What is the role I want to take on? Oh, and did I mention my grandbaby is 3000 miles away? How do I accomplish this with that distance?

Before I present my personal vision of my job to my son and daughter-in-law, I figured the come up with a skeleton of details, so we had a starting point for discussion. You are probably asking why a discussion point with the kids? Well, as I see it, they are my partner in this journey and with their alignment they can help make the plan a reality. After all, who is interacting with the grandkid every day? Who is it that can orchestrate get togethers, phone calls, activities and stories?

I don’t know if my grandparents had a plan, but each side of the family had different interactions with me. My mom’s parents lived in close proximity to our home, and the family business was attached to their home. I saw them every day while working at the store, eating meals in the kitchen, making Easter baskets in the basement and they were truly an extension of my home life and a defining part of my childhood. As for my dad’s side of the family my memories are less vivid. There was the yearly Christmas Eve party when all the cousins, uncles and aunts would get together, but other than that there was a periodic visit to their home, no memories of them coming to ours. Same community, all about the same distance away, yet significantly different interaction.

So, my first decision was easy, yep, Lucas will be in my life. My starting point which was easily accepted was a weekly phone call during the early years, so he can see pictures, start hearing my name and monthly cards that his parents can read to him and ultimately will be our personal communication. My thought about the cards is that it wouldn’t just be the “hi, miss you” kind of card but rather something that tells a story. A monthly story of stories from my past, his grandfather’s past that he never met, events, traditions or maybe even a defining moment in history, a story of his dad from the past. Something that will give him some insight into the legacy that he will now join.

Stay tuned as the job description continues to morph.

What is your role as grandparent?