I Believe a Person Should Always be Judged with an Open Mind

It’s normal for a kid to have four grandparents; two grandmothers and two grandfathers. But I have been fortunate enough to know six grandparents in my life. Up until recently, I would not have agreed that having two new step-grandfathers was what I preferred.

Since I have been little, my mom’s mother and father have been divorced. Grandma Donna and I are very close. We do fun things together like go shopping at the mall and decorate her house around Christmas time. When I was in fifth grade I found out that Grandma Donna was getting remarried to Sam. They had been dating for awhile but I never thought that Sam might become my new grandfather. I was worried that because of the marriage, I would lose out on spending time with Grandma Donna.

Two years later, my other grandmother, Grandma Arlene, announced that she was getting remarried. Grandma Arlene had been married for 42 years before my grandfather passed away. I was very close to my grandfather and knew that no one could ever replace him. When Grandma Arlene told us that she was marrying Dwain, I was very concerned about how this would affect my relationship with my grandmother. Their wedding was slightly awkward because we did not know any of Dwain’s family and I was upset because I did not understand how she could just remarry another man and replace my grandfather.

Eventually, over time, I came to realized that I was wrong about my new grandfathers. I had not given either Sam or Dwain a chance before I formed opinions about them. I just assumed that they would negatively affect the relationships I had with my grandmothers. Now, I strongly believe a person should always be judged with an open mind and over a period of time. I am very proud to have two new grandfathers. Sam actually encourages my grandma Donna and I to spend more time together. Sam drives us to the mall and takes us out for lunch. Dwain cheers me on at my basketball games and trusts me enough to drive his car when they are out of town! I now know that I was wrong and unfair to make judgments without an open mind and without letting time take its toll. My two new grandfathers have touched my life in an unexpected way and unknowingly made me come to realize one of my strongest beliefs, which is to always judge with an open mind, over time, before making any preconceived judgments or opinions.