Contact: Jon Hirst, Christian Grandparenting Network, 503-680-9325, jhirst@dotheword.org 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- As the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics wrap up and the nation is caught up in the competitive spirit of the games, a Grandparents.com survey from 2009 highlights the rise of a competitive spirit among boomer grandparents. Grandparents are competing against each other to be the favorites. Ministry leader says that the focus needs to be elsewhere.

Cavin Harper, founder of Christian Grandparenting Network says, "There's nothing wrong with being the best grandparent you can be, but when it becomes a competition among family members, you are setting yourself up for conflict, and that's not good for anyone, especially the grandkids."

Much of the competition is focused on gift one-upmanship. Grandparents account for 42 percent of all consumer spending on gifts, according to an article by the San Diego Union Tribune that quotes the grandparents.com study. In addition, this year $17 billion for education and $10 billion for clothing will be part of grandparents' spending.

The article describes the maneuvering for advantage game many grandparents find themselves in. Harper continues, "So many of us look at love like a pie that can only be split so many ways, but it is not like that. We have to remember that children, like all of us, have the capacity to love many people. Grandparents don't have to be insecure about their grandchildren's love for them."

CGN offers grandparents the tools to become heroes, mentors, and even spiritual leaders to their grandchildren. In addition to GrandCamps where grandparents and grandchildren go to camp together, CGN also offers an e-devotional, Carry the Torch, to grandparents free of charge. Weekly, grandparents can find tips, articles, and ongoing guidance on how to best invest in the life of a grandchild. Interested individuals can learn more about GrandCamps and sign up for the newsletter, Carry the Torch at www.christiangrandparenting.net. To discover more about CGN or find additional ways to build the grandparent-grandchild bond, call Cavin Harper at (719) 522-1404.