Can we let go?

We brought up 4 girls and are fortunate enough to see them grow up,get the education they should have and become spouses and mothers themselves.All of them have found their niches in life and as parents it gives us a strong sense of satisfaction and pride to see this.We believe we have done our part bringing them up in the way we thought best.However difficult we made sure that all of them got a proper education.We have always told them that the best and only legacy we could give them is education because with that they can go forth and face the world with the required skills, knowledge and values.
Today we have become grandparents and have to take a different role altogether.We are unable to ignore the fact that the children need our help to look after their kids and this is a task which mum especially relishes.In the process however sometimes there are little conflicts like style of bringing up the grandchildren and differences in opinions.
We are of course not able to bring up today's kids the way we brought up ours but there is basically not much difference in bringing up children now and then.They need the proper food and the proper environment to grow up.As parents we are expected to help manage the home for the children yet we cannot have things they way we want it.We are not only living with our children but also their spouses.We have to realize that we no longer call the shots but parents being what they are we cannot help but make a comment here and there every now and then .When that happens we quickly remind ourselves that our children are not what they were before and we cannot and should not treat them like before.This at time is bothersome and we cannot help but think of going back to our own home and live the rest of our lives there,for better or for worse.But its easier said than done.We still worry about if the children can cope with their careers and home and what happens if we are not around.With mum around life is so much more convenient ,the children can concentrate on their jobs without worrying about the home.They can come home after a hard day's work knowing that there is warm food waiting for them,they can take their breaks knowing that we are around to look after the home in their absence.
Yes,parents will be parents and kids will be kids>there is no way of letting go as like it or not parents will have a role to play in their children's lives .That being the case the challenge is how to be parents to grown up children who have minds of their own and sometimes not like being told what to do."Be seen and not heard,give opinions when you are asked",otherwise just watch and see what happens.We have decided that in no way would we be a nuisance to the children.Let them lead their lives,we are always in the background -to be there when needed and to never forget that whilst we cannot let go ,to remember that our role and status today is not the same as when our children were growing up.