How can I help my grandchildren understand who I am beyond being the babysitter?

Let them see you doing things that have nothing to do with them. Work on a garden, read deeply, have friends over, create something. Kids notice when adults have an inner life. Share age-appropriate pieces of your story—not as a lesson, but as context. 'When I was your age, I loved building things' or 'Your grandmother taught me to notice small beautiful things.' Over time, these fragments become a portrait. Rabia's love wasn't conditional on usefulness—it was devotion itself, pure presence. That's what grandchildren remember: not what you did for them, but the feeling of being genuinely seen by someone who has lived a whole life. Ask them questions about what they're curious about. Learn from them too. The relationship deepens when they realize you're not just a role—you're a person with your own questions, regrets, joys. That's what they carry forward.