It is a privilege to spend time with young people. I find they have interesting ideas, strong opinions and knowledge that I do not possess. They are willing to teach and sometimes they are willing to learn (she said with a smile).

Recently I had the singular pleasure of traveling with my 13-year-old granddaughter. Josie and I flew to the Haven Institute on Gabriola Island where she took a youth leadership training course. She is now prepared to begin interning in the Kids in the Spotlight program. During the next several years she will continue the training and she will assume more responsibility in the KITS program

Although she was busy and essentially unavailable during the course, I had her undivided attention during our travel time. It was a totally enjoyable experience. The topics of our conversations ranged from her friend who has some troubling behaviour to the creepy guy we met. I loved hearing about her determination to be herself and still be sensitive to others. She teased me for using the word "anxious." Apparently I use it a lot.

Josie's younger sister Sullivan is an equally interesting, though very different person. She is a very good planner and she has the ability to work on long-term projects. While Josie is doing her first week of interning at Haven, Sullivan's friend Eva who lives in Olympia, WA will come for a visit. The girls have spent months dreaming about this visit and through sheer force of will they have made it happen.

Sullivan has excellent organizational abilities and she has a long list of activities to fill the week. She has mapped out a schedule and recruited several relatives to assist with entertaining Eva. It will be a busy and I imagine fun-filled week.

Josie and Sullivan are bright, beautiful, charming and funny. Although they is interested in boys and make up (Josie) music and dance (Sullivan), they are also thoughtful and introspective. They have good sense. I not only love them, I like them.

I often think about and take pride in my mentoring role with my grandchildren. However, I want to acknowledge that I also learn from them. I like seeing the world through their eyes. They keep me connected to many contemporary trends in fashion, music, slang, technology and much more.

Although they tease me because I am not up to date on the latest trends, they also generously teach me. They convinced me to be on Facebook, taught me how to text, introduced me to Pet Society. My life is much more fun because of them.

They are wise beyond their years. When I am with them I treasure the moments. I am their devoted student. I don't want to embarrass them by trying to be like them. After all, as Josie points out I am old, but I love to learn from them. I am reminded to always be myself, plan ahead, make things happen, look good,  stay up to date, laugh at myself and much more.