School is about to begin.  I’m sure you have mixed feelings if you are a parent.  You’ll be glad to have some time for yourself,  but you’re wondering if you gave your kids enough good memories to last till next summer vacation.  If you’re a grandparent, you might be wondering how you’ll be able to spend quality time with your grandkids once their busy Fall schedule kicks in.  Making it a priority.  Being intentional. Scheduling. Planning.  Making the time count.  I have to live by these mantras if I’m to have meaningful time with our grandchildren.  I’m writing this article because I need to improve in this area and I have sat myself down to think about how I can spend quality time with my teenage granddaughter.

So let’s say that I have the time blocked out on my calendar to be with our teen granddaughter.  I’m so happy to have the privilege of being in her life.  (Most of our grandchildren are simply too far away for regular time together.)  Now, what should we do together?  For my teen, I’m writing down a list of experiences I had as a teen that I’m grateful for:  opportunities that helped widen my view of the world and appreciate the culture of others, do meaningful work, experience stretching challenges, enjoy fun times.  How can I facilitate some of these experiences for my granddaughter?  Below is my list.  What experiences did you have as a youth that contributed positively to your adulthood?  Jot down your list.  Why not make plans to provide these for your children or grandchildren?  Think of specific ways to implement similar experiences and a date so you move it from a nice idea to a plan that moves you to accomplish your desire.

Here are some of my youthful experiences that I want to facilitate for my granddaughter:

Cross cultural experiences/friendships

As Americans, we can be pretty ignorant of the world beyond our own community.  But we don’t need to travel abroad to learn to appreciate other cultures.  I’m grateful for the childhood friendships I shared with immigrant families, families of other religions, and families from different parts of the US.  It can even be as simple as eating international cuisine making it a point to chat with your ethnic servers, going to ethnic performances, and visiting neighborhoods that are predominately a foreign ethnicity, shopping at their grocery stores and striking up conversations.  Of course, the best way is to really get to know folks from backgrounds different than yours by being in each other’s homes, eating together, sharing stories, and honoring each other’s differences.  There are many organizations that will pair you up with foreigners in need of friendship. Navigators is one organization that has opened a wide door of opportunity for us to befriend foreign college students.

Travel

A road trip to Quebec from Pennsylvania as a child whet my appetite for learning a foreign language in high school.  I was so proud of my mother for conversing in French that I aspired to do the same.  Never quite became fluent, but sure enjoyed my years of study helped by private lessons with a delightful little Belgique.

My high school graduation gift was a trip to Mexico City after studying Spanish in high school.  The intense road trip south to the border helped give me lots of driving experience.  But I was unprepared for the sights and smells of the Mexican train trip.  Hello, third world.  I sure needed that preparation for future travels and a life overseas.  Grateful for the initiation.

Even if international travel isn’t possible, day trips to points of interest or beauty in your area are very valuable.  Learning about your own area encourages a craving for knowledge in your youth and an alertness for noticing what others may miss.  Historical markers and buildings, scenic lookouts, architecture and bridges, public gardens, and state parks all offer rich experiences usually for free.

Volunteer work

I participated in political campaigns as a young person and got an inside view of how our system of government works.  Invaluable experience.

Volunteering at a camp as a kitchen crew member, then later as a counselor taught me all kinds of real life lessons.  So grateful that I stepped out of my comfort zone.  (Rustic wasn’t my norm.)

As a late teen, I volunteered in inner city Chicago to work with underprivileged children and with street people.  Waaaay out of my comfort zone.  But it gave me a strong dose of real world awareness.

Perhaps there are volunteer opportunities you could do alongside your youth.  I can’t think of a better way to bond.  Check out needs in the community through your church or non-profit.

Jobs

I worked in a community library as a high schooler.  Learning to show up on time, do what I was told and stick with it until completed were life lessons of great value.  Help your youth widen their job search beyond McDonald’s.  Network with small business owners to see if they would consider an apprentice.  Be observant as you run errands, chat with friends, do life.  What opportunities are there for a youth willing to work and learn?  Ask friends if your teen could job shadow them.  Often times an opportunity arises from relationships.  It isn’t always what you know, but who you know.

Activities with other youth under adult guidance

Church youth groups are usually safe environments for youth to interact with each other.  This is where I first began to learn useful leadership skills such as planning, working cohesively with others, communication, listening, and not insisting on my own ideas.

Competition is a great way to grow.  This includes sports, science fairs, art/photography contests, auditions for drama presentations or choirs.  Many parents and grandparents I know give selflessly of their time to coach teams/groups that their kids/grandkids participate in.

Physical activities with family/friends

My father was athletic and introduced me to skating- both ice and roller.  I’m so glad he did.  Watching him effortlessly and gracefully glide inspired me to relax and feel comfortable on skates even if my skills never matched his.  Learning to be at ease (or appearing to be!) in challenging situations was useful in all kinds of life experiences.

A family we love makes it their habit to camp and hike as a family.  I admire them.

Great music and literary performances

I’ll never forget a performance of the Boston Pops Orchestra my father took me to in the Boston Symphony Hall.  I was in sensory overload.  The opulent venue, the amazing acoustics, the thrill of a live performance.  I loved every minute of it.  I know we can’t afford fancy concerts on a regular basis, but I’d like my grandchildren to experience more than one genre of music.  Even just one happy memory of a timeless music genre will broaden their music appreciation.  There are local groups of musicians who perform every kind of genre wherever you live.  Why not try out a few?

Intellectual stimulation 

As I was preparing this article, what should appear in my inbox but this free offer for museum tickets?!  Since September 23^rd is National Museum Day, the Smithsonian is facilitating free tickets to museums across the country.  Just go HERE to sign up for free tickets to a museum near you.  Oh, and since you’ll be getting two free tickets, why not take a young person with you?  Let them observe your curiosity, discuss what you see, ask which display interested them the most and what they learned.  Verbalizing their experience helps cement it in their memory.