Training Grandpa

My husband tore open the UPS package.  The excitement on his face was unmistakable as he pulled out a box containing his new drone.  However, after he leafed through the manual that came with it, he looked a bit perplexed.  The technical instructions were more complicated than some college textbooks.  Where should he start?

My grandson, Josh, waited beside him, trembling with eager anticipation to help.  He showed his grandpa how to get the delicate equipment out of the packing without damaging it.  Although he’s only eleven, he knew exactly what to do.

As my husband studied the manual, Josh answered his questions about the complex commands.  He and his grandson spent hours together, Josh examining the features and my husband trying to understand the instructions.

A few days later, they invited me to come along for a trial run.  When the drone took off and landed flawlessly, they gave each other a high-five.  The flight had been a huge success.

Equally successful was the memory they created, one of an exciting experience that drew them closer together.  However, this bonding would never have occurred if my husband hadn’t been open to learning from my grandson.  

Sometimes as adults, we feel we need to teach the younger generation.  But have we ever considered that young people have something to teach us?  True, youngsters don’t have as much experience, but they are creative and can “think out of the box.”  In addition, they usually aren’t stuck in a rut as some older folks who say, “We’ve always done it this way.”

What can you learn from the young people around you?  If you are open to them, you may be surprised at what you discover.