Grandparents Day and advice on love from Chat GPT
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a declaration that the Sunday after Labor Day would be observed as Grandparent’s Day.
Before a CNN article on September second discussing groups of parents in Japan matchmaking for their adult children spiked my curiosity, I had just grumbled from time to time that it wasn’t fair that us grandparents didn’t have a day honoring us. The CNN article noted that with their children not dating, “Their parents, alarmed at their diminishing chances of grandchildren, are stepping in.”
The groups of parents and grandparents in Japan performing dating services for their adult-age children raises a fascinating question. Should we revive in some form arranged marriages? That CNN article noted that at the meeting in Osaka, Japan, two 80-year-old grandparents said “their 49-year-old son has been spending too much time at work to pay attention to his love life,” and another couple in their seventies said, “their daughter doesn’t date because she wants to be free to hang out with her college friends whenever she wants.”
Returning to our country, why not bag the men’s groups at churches or at Denny’s at 8 a.m., or the book groups for women reading about the mystical land of Midford? How about us seniors gather this weekend to apply our expertise to finding our unmarried children and grandchildren the ideal mate?
In that vein, a friend of mine asked ChatGPT, “Why is arranged marriage better?” The reply:
Arranged marriage can provide stability and compatibility by involving families in the selection process, considering shared values, backgrounds, and long-term goals. This can reduce the likelihood of impulsive decisions and focus on building a strong foundation for a lasting partnership, fostering trust, and support within the family structure.
Wait a minute. I have at least two objections: First, what about love? Love often starts impulsively and with commitment and luck grows up. Second, hasn’t a succession of our generations from us baby boomers on down done an excellent job of blowing the heck out of marriage? Fifty percent divorce rates are not a great resume builder for a group seeking to play cupid. Perhaps it’s best to let the ship of marriage right itself over time. If us older folks get involved, we might foul things up even more — if that is possible.
Instead of some organized meeting, I simply wish for all of my fellow senior citizens that they may be granted the wish in Psalm 128, verse 6: “May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.”
Whether it’s seeing one of my seven-year-old granddaughters enjoying her gymnastics class, or seeing my 18-year-old grandson master his podcast work, or seeing my challenged ten-year-old granddaughter get gradually better with physical and occupational therapy, it’s pure joy. I enjoy hearing from our granddaughter in her second year of law school and our grandson just entering first grade.
Here is a story I recently wrote of a not-so-unusual morning in 2022 that I spent with our young granddaughters:
"My five-year-old granddaughter threw the first pillow at me about 7AM. I returned fire.
"Her twin was trying to wake up but protested that she didn’t want to go to school. My wife brought out the hairbrush. In another age that might have meant something different, but this morning in this decade, the brush was for the hair, not the backside. I worked a different angle by opening a big box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch I had purchased at Costco the day before. I shouted from downstairs that I was pouring the milk into the bowls.
"I opened the door to their three-year-old sister’s room about 7:45AM. She wouldn’t move, even when threatened that Pop-Pop would bring in his close friend, Tickle Monster, if she didn’t get up. Pop-Pop changed the persuasion to a countdown from five. It worked at the count of two. She emerged and headed for the floor. Luckily as I was trying to select a long sleeve top for her, Grandma came in and saved me from having to change the four-millionth-ish diaper, since I changed the first one for our oldest child in 1971. By the way, I never pinned one of them in the days before Pampers!"
I asked the same friend of mine to ask ChatGPT, “Why are grandparents important?” Here was the answer:
Grandparents are important because they bring a wealth of wisdom, experience, and love to their grandchildren's lives. They can provide guidance and support, help instill values, and create lasting memories. Grandparents also play a vital role in passing down family traditions, stories, and cultural heritage.
“They” did better with that answer!
Being there to wish two granddaughters a great first day of school last Wednesday is my version of bringing “…love to [our] grandchildren’s lives.”
Their smiles were the “lasting memory.”
Contact Larry Little at larrylittle46@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Grandparents Day and advice on love from Chat GPT
