The fact that we warehouse our elderly and deprive ourselves of so much wisdom is a travesty. Other societies (the Chinese, for one) realize the benefits age can bestow. And ultimately, as you've intimated, the children miss out on some wonderful times. Relieved of the day to day responsibility of dealing with the mundane but necessary aspects of raising children, grandparents have a unique opportunity to teach in leisurely and casual manner, through example and otherwise.

The obvious advantages of capitalism aside, I think one of the reasons the elderly aren't revered in our society is that they are not as likely as the young to indiscriminantly buy material goods, and thus make poor (literally as well as figuratively) consumers. As a lot of them are on fixed incomes, their ability to fuel our economy is inhibited, and advertising execs would rather invest their dollars on slick appeals garnered to win youngsters with fistfuls of discretionary income over to the latest fashion craze, than to waste it on the old who aren't as easily influenced.

My kids love their grandmother and grandfather, whom we are fortunate enough to be able to visit frequently. And my folks also know that if the time comes when they are not able to live independently, they will have a home with us for as long as they live.

Regards, Neil