So often we only think about what we are offering our grandchildren with the experiences we share. A few weeks ago, I realized that the opposite is true. They offer us so much more. They offer a different perspective on the world, a renewed innocence of life, and an ever-active curiosity.

We recently visited the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station in Niagara Falls, Canada. Just as we arrived, a large bus full of middle school students pulled in front of the tour to be met by a tour guide. We hustled inside hoping to get ahead of the crowd but were told that the only way to get the tour was to join the school group—if there was enough room. Added to that, was a comment that the group was from a French-speaking school so we might have to listen to a translator who would repeat the English in French. Always ready for adventure, we asked to be included.

As luck would have it, there was room to squeeze us in with the first group of students who turned out to be all English-speaking but required to speak French at school. They were amazingly well-behaved and even though noise levels rose a bit now and then, they were quickly quieted when asked to pay attention. It was fun to observe what caught their attention and it generally was not what the tour guide pointed out. Instead they marveled at things like the tricycles the workers rode to get from end to end of the huge room where the turbines were. Their observation emphasized the size of the room more than the cited dimensions could in meters.

While the guide provided the history of the plant, when it came time for questions, the kids got him to delve into things that were even more interesting. Why are there so many seagulls around? Fish are disoriented coming through the intake tubes and are easy prey. What happens when someone fall over the Falls? The amount of water going over the Falls can be reduced by shutting the gates of the International Dam—but generally “it’s because they need to search for a body. It’s not recommended you try going over the Falls.”

There were many more questions. They were the kinds of questions adults would think too silly to ask but they added a flavor to the tour that would have been lost had we been with a group more our own age. So, be a little selfish. Take those grandkids to some places of interest and let them have at the tour guide or park ranger or even yourself. It’s guaranteed they will make you see things in a different light as you view them through their eyes.

(For more on our tour of the Beck Generating Station see my blog.)

Copyright © 2009 by Karen Robbins Share

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