I must admit, there are times I have taken advantage of people. My selfish interests took priority and the interest of others went by the wayside. I wish I could go back and change things but I can’t.

If anyone reading this is one of those people, please know I am regretful and I ask for your forgiveness.

Taking advantage of parents, though, is a totally different matter.

My wife and I take advantage of my parents and her parents fairly often. On the very selfish side, having a night out without the cost of a babysitter is a pretty good deal. On a more practical level, I often have my parents come help out when my wife is traveling – and help out they do!

As the mother of eight kids, my mom has never been able to get doing laundry out of her system. She is also pretty good at yard work. (To set the record straight, I have told my mom that at 83 years old, it is okay for her to just sit and relax while she is at our house. I just have not been successful convincing her.)

My dad was never one to change diapers (or should I say “never changed one diaper”) but he is amazing when it comes to keeping the attention of kids. Whether he is playing piano or playing cards (or bouncing them on his knee when they were younger), my kids and my nieces and nephews are drawn to my dad.

Taking advantage of our parents, though, is not about making our lives easier. Taking advantage of our parents is taking every opportunity for our children to get to spend time with their grandparents.

Taking advantage of my dad is my ten-year-old son learning and loving card games that have been played in my family for generations.

Taking advantage of my mother is my six-year-old son kneeling by her side while pulling weeds, observing the work ethic she developed as the oldest of three girls on a Wisconsin dairy farm.

Taking advantage of my mother-in-law means my eight-year-old daughter learning you are never too old to laugh and have fun as they have a bubble fight in our kitchen.

Taking advantage of my father-in-law means all three kids walking with him in the woods by his childhood home, learning an appreciation for nature.

Taking advantage of our parents strengthens the link between the generations.

For this, I have no regrets.

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