Last year I became a first time grandparent, and along with that came challenging disciplinary issues.  But, oh what a wonderful world it has been!  You know the song by Louis Armstrong?

That's the type of "wonderful" I'm referring to.  When you become a grandparent, you genuinely see the world through extraordinarily rose-colored glasses.  Just like the lyrics say: "I see trees of green, red roses too" and "the colors of a rainbow, so pretty in the sky."  That's how I feel when I see my grandson smile, or hear him laugh.  My whole face just lights up.  For me, there's no other way to describe the experience of being Grandma.

However, while disciplining your grandkids, I assure you, those glasses are not always inordinately rose-colored.  When your grandchildren are as quick as a whip and they indeed know what buttons to push, (meaning your buttons), you are truly being tested every moment you are with them.

They pick up on "no, don't do that" or "no, don't touch that" relatively quickly.  They learn what right and wrong mean very early on.

Take this for an example, and this is the truth...

My grandson will walk a full circle around our living room and cleverly and quickly touch everything he is NOT supposed to -- and all with a huge grin and while devilishly laughing!  Now if that's not considered profoundly gifted, I don't know what is!  And no, I'm not just being a proud grandma, this one-year-old is indeed a little more intelligent than the average smart little guy.

Do I spank?  Yes I do.  However, all the while wondering if Mommy and Daddy do the same.  Let me tell you, I've had to spank a little harder than what I consider a good spanking.  Why?  My grandson just laughs when I spank and it doesn't even begin to touch the surface of pain...it's then that I have to put a little more muscle into it.  Grandma don't like doing that!

Although, I personally feel that I'm failing my grandparenting duties, and my grandson as well if I don't.  I have to be firm and dare not laugh (however, it's hard), when disciplining.  And yelling sure doesn't do any good.  I learned that with my own son.  If I had the chance to do a few things differently (with my child), I sure would.  Although, he flourished into a caring, responsible adult, just as my grandchild will too. 

Does Grandma's house have a few secrets on letting a few things slide?  Of course!  I think all grandparents have a little of the attitude, "What happens at grandma's stays at grandma's!"

However, overall, you DO have to be firm and stick to your guns if you don't want your disciplinary skills to grow stale.