I had a colleague in the San Francisco area who was blessed with nine children ranging in ages from three months to seventeen years old.
Charlie was a therapist so I figured he could handle it...but nine kids?
We were having a conversation about our families back in the day and I asked him point blank, "How do you keep your sanity with nine kids and get anything done?"
He paused for a second, smiled, and said, "Where you place your time, you place your life." He didn't need to offer any other explanation. I never forgot that little piece of advice and it helped me to be a better father and hopefully, a grandfather.
While school is out this summer and the kids have more time on their hands than usual, engage them, invest your time with them, and the rewards that you reap as a parent and grandparent will forever enrich you.
In addition, your children and grandchildren will know that they're important to you. And that realization is one of the greatest gifts that you can give to them.
Enjoy the summer...with your kids and grandkids.