The Active Grandparent Theory
In a previous blog post, I spoke of the physical challenges we modern grandparents face being able to help out through toddlerhood and beyond. Now, an article in the New York Times summarizes some research built on the “Active Grandparent Theory”. Basically, movement and having an active adulthood are built into our DNA. Each second generation below us (our offspring’s offspring) is depending on us being active and still mobile.
In my own early years of parenting, I struggled with sleep deprivation. I often wished I had chosen to parent during my late teens when I had more energy and mobility. Being an older and wiser parent also would have been less critical if the generation above me was in proximity. It wouldn’t be kids raising kids. But in our case, the grandparents were many states away.
We, humans, have become extremely mobile in one dimension, (how far and wide our families are spread out) while at the same becoming less mobile relative to moving our pelvis up and down off the floor.
We need to step up (and squat down) and give all parents and young ones a hand and a lap, regardless of kinship. We are all immigrants now who depend on emotional remittances through FaceTime. Our DNA will not change fast enough to keep us healthy while sedentary (as it seems to do for our other primate relatives). And that is also why we invented culture. We can change culture on a dime compared to the speed of DNA.
At Ikaria Design we are promoting Floor Culture over Chair Culture specifically, and movement workstyles over sedentary ones. The culture of how we do family needs to change as well. Offer to fill the role of active grandparent wherever the opportunity arises. And once you’ve gotten bit by the Grand-bug, actively seek out opportunities to grandparent, don’t wait for the slow pace of your own kin to go to seed. There’s a world of appreciation out there just waiting for you to stay young at heart in all the ways.
