Discovering Passions: Watching Our Grandchildren Thrive

One of the infinite joys of parenting (and grandparenting) is witnessing your child discovering something he or she loves doing. It’s an incredible journey to see them light up with excitement and passion as they explore their interests. As a grandparent, I’ve had the privilege of watching my five grandchildren uncover their unique talents and pursue their passions. In this article, I will share the remarkable stories of my grandchildren, highlighting their interests and the incredible journey they have embarked on.

Charleana: The Skilled Artist

Charleana, my 6-year-old granddaughter, is an incredibly talented artist. Her creativity knows no bounds, and every piece she creates tells a story, showcasing her keen skills and vivid imagination. What sets Charleana apart is her bilingualism. She fluently speaks Spanish and English, further enhancing her ability to communicate her artistic vision.

Misha: The Entertainer

Misha, at the young age of 4, is already an entertainer. She loves to mimic her older sister and is highly competitive. Like Charleana, Misha also has a passion for art and enjoys creating her own songs. Her lively personality and love for performing make her a constant source of joy and laughter.

Tilleigh: The Budding Actress

Tilleigh, now a teenager at 16, has found her calling in acting. From a young age, Tilleigh showed a profound love for movies, live theater, and concerts. At just 4 years old, she began reciting lines from the iconic film “The Wizard of Oz” and even transformed into the character of Dorothy. This passion only grew stronger as she enrolled in performing arts productions and eventually joined a fine-arts magnet school. Tilleigh’s dedication and talent have already taken her to New York City, where she had the opportunity to watch Broadway plays and experience the magic of the theater firsthand.

Evie: The Horse Enthusiast

Evie, my 13-year-old granddaughter, has discovered a deep passion for horses. Although she initially started as a competitive swimmer at the age of 5, her love for horses soon took precedence. Evie’s determination led her to take horse-riding lessons and develop her skills in caring for these magnificent creatures. She now spends her time at nearby stables, taking care of several horses and a donkey. Evie’s dedication and love for animals have also led her to join the 4-H Youth Development program, where she learns everything about horses, from judging shows to mapping out courses for horse events.

William: The Tech Whiz

William, my 10-year-old grandson, is a competitive swimmer who has a hidden talent for technology. While he enjoys playing video games on his iPad and computer, it is his curiosity and passion for technology that sets him apart. William is an avid reader and is constantly seeking knowledge about various technological aspects. He has a knack for figuring out how to design websites and solve technological problems. At just a young age, his expertise has even surprised his seasoned scientist uncle, who believes William has a promising future in the tech industry.

The Journey Continues

What is truly remarkable about my grandchildren’s passions is that they have all found interests that most of the adults in our family have no experience in. Their unique and diverse pursuits have breathed new life into our family, showcasing the power of pursuing one’s passions and discovering hidden talents. It is a testament to the innate drive and curiosity within each child, and it reminds us that age and experience are not limitations when it comes to pursuing our dreams.

Grandchildren: A Source of Joy and Inspiration

Grandchildren hold a special place in our hearts, and they bring immeasurable joy into our lives. Watching them grow and thrive, uncovering their passions and pursuing their dreams, is a truly awe-inspiring experience. They remind us of the importance of nurturing and supporting the younger generation, allowing them to explore their interests and cultivate their talents. As grandparents, we have the invaluable opportunity to witness the evolution of our grandchildren and take pride in their accomplishments.

Conclusion

As I reflect on the incredible journeys of my grandchildren, I am filled with gratitude and pride. Their unwavering determination and passion serve as a reminder that everyone has the potential to find their calling and excel in their chosen path. Through their stories, we are reminded of the immense joy that comes from discovering and nurturing our passions. To all the grandparents and parents out there, let us continue to support and encourage our loved ones in their quest for self-discovery and fulfillment. Celebrate the unique talents and passions of our children and grandchildren, for they are the future leaders and change-makers of our world.

Email Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com.

Additional Piece: The Transformative Power of Passion

Passion is a remarkable force that drives individuals to explore new avenues, overcome challenges, and reach for the extraordinary. It is this elusive emotion that can transform lives, ignite creativity, and unleash hidden potential. While my grandchildren have beautifully exemplified the transformative power of passion, their journeys are not unique; rather, they serve as a testament to the incredible possibilities that await each and every one of us.

Discovering the Spark

Passion often begins with a spark, a moment of connection that resonates deep within our souls. For Charleana, it was the thrill of creating art and the joy of self-expression. For Misha, it was the sheer delight of entertaining others and exploring her boundless imagination. Tilleigh discovered her love for acting through the enchanting world of cinema, and Evie felt an undeniable connection with horses that set her on a transformative path. William’s passion for technology stemmed from a curiosity that drove him to unravel the mysteries of the digital world.

Nurturing the Flame

Once ignited, passion must be nurtured and fueled to truly flourish. In the case of my grandchildren, their parents and loved ones played an instrumental role in supporting their interests and providing the resources and opportunities to grow. From enrolling Tilleigh in performing arts productions to allowing Evie to care for horses, they created an environment that nourished their passions. As adults, we have the responsibility to foster and cultivate the passions of our children and grandchildren, guiding them on a path of self-discovery and personal growth.

Embracing the Journey

Pursuing one’s passion is not always a smooth and straightforward path. It requires dedication, resilience, and a willingness to embrace the ups and downs of the journey. My grandchildren have encountered their fair share of challenges and setbacks, but their unwavering commitment and love for what they do have propelled them forward. They understood that failure is not an endpoint but rather a stepping stone towards growth and improvement. By embracing the journey, they have developed valuable skills, built resilience, and found a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Passion as a Gateway to Personal Growth

Beyond the joy and fulfillment it brings, passion has a profound impact on personal growth and development. Through their respective interests, my grandchildren have honed various skills, from artistic creativity to critical thinking and problem-solving. They have developed discipline, perseverance, and the ability to work towards long-term goals. Moreover, their passions have instilled in them a deep sense of self-confidence and self-belief, empowering them to take on new challenges and explore uncharted territories.

The Ripple Effect of Passion

Passion not only transforms individuals but also has the power to create a ripple effect in the world around us. When we pursue our passions, we inspire others to do the same. My grandchildren’s unwavering dedication to their interests has influenced their friends, classmates, and even older adults in our family. It has sparked conversations, broadened horizons, and encouraged others to explore their own passions. The impact of passion extends far beyond the individual, shaping communities and fostering a culture of lifelong learning and growth.

Summary

In this article, we explored the inspiring stories of my grandchildren and their remarkable journeys of discovering and pursuing their passions. From art and entertainment to acting, horse riding, and technology, each grandchild found their calling in a unique and unexpected way. Their stories remind us of the transformative power of passion and its ability to shape lives, drive personal growth, and inspire change. As grandparents and parents, let us continue to nurture and support the passions of our loved ones, for they hold the key to a future brimming with possibility and fulfillment.

One of the infinite joys of parenting (and grandparenting) is witnessing your child discovering something he or she loves doing.

Because three of my five grandchildren — Tilleigh, 16, Evie, 13, and William, 10 — live next door, I’ve had the privilege of watching their passions unfold.

My youngest two grandchildren — Charleana, 6, and Misha, 4 — live in California. Though I see them about four times each year and visit them frequently via FaceTime, I’m not with them on a daily basis. But because we communicate frequently, I’m up to date on what’s going on in their lives.

Charleana is a skilled artist. She’s incredibly creative. There’s a story behind every piece she creates, illustrating her keen skills and imagination. Like her sister, she’s bilingual. She speaks Spanish and English fluently.

Misha is an entertainer. She does everything her big sister does, and she’s quite competitive. She also loves art and loves to make up her own songs.

Tilleigh is an actress. She loves movies, live theater and concerts.

At 4 years old, she showed us her love of acting when she began reciting Judy Garland’s lines as Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz.” She had just watched the film for the first time when she began morphing into Dorothy. It was near Halloween, and Dorothy costumes were plentiful in stores. We bought her one, and she wore it until she outgrew it. She was constantly reenacting scenes and directing family members to act as other characters in the movie.

At 5, her mom, my daughter, Kacee, enrolled her in Skwalking Heads Productions, a local performing arts production company founded by Colleen Laliberte.

Tilleigh performed in multiple plays under Laliberte’s guidance before entering the sixth grade at Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts, a fine-arts magnet school for grades 6-12.

It’s at CCA where Tilleigh is fine-tuning her love of theater and film, thanks to the incredible faculty. She, along with a few dozen classmates and teachers, recently visited New York City, where they attended four Broadway plays. “Life of Pi” and “Parade” were her favorites. They also toured the stage at Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Broadway where “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is playing.

My granddaughter is already living her dream.

Meanwhile, back home, Tilleigh has started working her first “real” job. She’s waitressing and bussing tables at her uncle Alex Rivers’ recently opened restaurant, Old Man Rivers. She’s enjoying the work and excited about earning a paycheck.

Evie, who has been swimming competitively since age 5, has discovered something she loves more than freestyle and backstroke: horses.

She had been asking for horse-riding lessons for months when her mom caved and set it all up two years ago. What nobody knew at the time, Evie was on the brink of developing a passion that will likely stay with her throughout life.

To date, Evie has honed skills that enable her to care for several horses and a donkey at nearby stables when their owner, who is a godsend to Evie’s passion, is out of town. She feeds and waters them, lets them out to pasture, gathers them in before dark, grooms them and, most of all, loves them. If a storm is on the horizon, Evie rushes to the stables to make sure they’re taken care of and safe.

Because of her intense dedication, Evie joined the 4-H Youth Development program, a division of Hamilton County Extension. She participates in animal programs focused on horses that teach her, she says, “everything about horses except riding.” She is learning how to judge shows, map out courses for horse events and more. She loves every second of anything that involves horses.

William, 10, also a competitive swimmer, is most content when he’s playing video games on his iPad or computer. But it’s not just passing time and competing on screen that he only enjoys. He also loves figuring out how to design websites.

William is an avid reader. When he questions how to do something, he looks it up and figures it out himself because he knows more about technology than we do. In fact, a couple years ago at Christmas, our family was posing for a group selfie using an iPhone’s photo timer. The only one who could figure out how to do it was William. My son, Kit, the CEO of a scientific research company, said, “I’m going to hire him one day.”

And you know what’s so exciting about the grandkids’ passions? They’re all interested in something that most of the adults in my family have zero experience in, except for my two scientists, Kit and Karah, who are technology-oriented.

Nobody in our immediate family has acted or been around horses.

Grandkids are the bomb, I’m telling you. They breathe new life into being an elderly human. They make it so much fun. And, believe me, I’m on-my-knees thankful.

Email Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com.