"Love your parents and grandparents. We are so busy growing up, we often forget they are also growing old." - Unknown

Too often we never get a chance to thank our elders for what they have worked hard for and given us, and it is sad to think of our life that way.

Being raised in a household where your parents are married and you do not have to spend your time at school worrying about where you will sleep that night, or when your next meal will be, is something to be forever grateful for. But many people go their whole lives without cherishing the people who surround them until it is too late.

One of many children who grew up in a relatively wonderful environment, I never really appreciated the childhood I was given. Not only did I have a roof over my head, food on the table every meal, and two parents to love me, but I also had a beautiful grandmother living in my basement who was eager to feed me sweets and spoil me whenever she saw fit. Yes, there were several hiccups in the road along the way, but I should never have wasted so much time focusing on the negative aspects of my life when I could have been enjoying all of the wonderful ones.

Coming from everyone who has lost a parent or grandparent, here is some advice to those of you who still have time while they are around:

Don't sweat the small stuff. If your parent/grandparent makes you angry just breathe and let it go. Do not argue with them about it, because they are most likely right.

Spend time with them. More importantly, enjoy their presence! One of my grandma's favorite past times was watching baseball. Watching a game or even just an inning with her meant the world to her. Don't think spending time with your parent/grandparent ever goes unnoticed. They cherish that time with you and you should, too.

When they pass away everything that they used to do that annoyed the daylights out of you will be what you love and miss the most about them. How they chewed, what they got after you about, how strict they were with you, how they treated you like a baby sometimes, how they still wanted kisses in public--these things and more will stick in your mind and you will discover that you love every quirk they had.

You are young and you think you have all the time in the world to spend with your parents and grandparents--let me tell you that time runs out quicker than you could ever imagine. Just as we grow old, they grow old, too, so make the best out of your time with them while you have it.