How Grand It Is. . .
. . . to be a grandmother. Once anointed to this role, you’ll always have . . .
- someone to remind you to cover your legs with a towel at the beach—so the blue lines on your legs won’t show.
- someone to tell you she loves the feel of your hands just when you’re noticing how old they look.
- someone to jump up on the kitchen counter in one bound—to reach a bowl or a cup that is too high for you.
- someone to tell you that your shoes are ‘cool,’ your earrings are just the right color, and it might be time for a new hairstyle.
- someone with whom to make cookies, read bedtime stories, skip in the rain, laugh at knock-knock jokes, and fall asleep in front of a favorite cartoon show.
- someone to confide in as he or she grows up and becomes a very capable individual.
Being a mother is superb. Being a grandmother is surreal. Being a great-grandmother is supernal!
And living long enough to experience it all has been one of the great blessings of my life. I will remember all this and more as I enjoy an adult evening with my 21-year-old granddaughter Mairin and her boyfriend Dorian. We’ll enjoy a lovely meal overlooking the ocean, catch a glimpse of the sun setting, and laugh and talk the night away.
May you live to see your children’s children (Psalm 128:6)
So very true!!!!!!!!!! I loved this. I was just feeling rather sad as all the grandkids went back to school this week, and now there are no little ones still at home. But you have given me such a great NEW goal: get my health and agility up to speed so I’m ready for any grandbabies who come along! With one granddaughter graduating from high school this year, you never know! I’d better get back to working out regularly! Bless you, Karen!
Great hearing from you, Kristi. I’m happy to know you too are a very content grandma.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
And to you the same.
I wish my grandchildren didn’t live so far away from me.
I have five of mine all over the universe but fortunately three are here in Santa Cruz.
What wonderful blessings they are indeed. Mairin and Dorian are adorable. My oldest granddaughter Alison is 28 today …… seems not long ago she was learning to walk and talk!! We sure are blessed Karen and I know that we have many more treats in store……. keep on enjoying and staying healthy and strong…….
Big Hugs and tons of love flowing your way ❤️🙏🏻😘🤗❤️
Thanks, Kathleen. I know how much your ‘grands’ mean to you. They are lucky and blessed to have you. I hope your trip to Scotland with Anne was a real treasure.
And being a great-Aunt is just as great a blessing as being a grandmother! I love my great-nephews and -nieces. They bring me huge amounts of joy!
Such a blessing for sure. your ‘greats’ are blessed to call you Aunt.
It is special to be near your grandkids but if they are far away, we just have to do things by mail and the computer to send our love and encouragement.
So true. I have some that live out of the country so social media and email keep us close, just as you mentioned.
Love this one and oh so true! One of my favorite times with one of my granddaughters was when she went with me to a family reunion and we had car trouble and missed the whole group and just visited family members seperately. After we got home I told her I was so sorry we missed the whole gang being together, and she said in her sweet voice: “but Grandmother, we were together!” I think she was about six years old and a real blessing. One of my biggest blessings is from one of my granddaughters husband who wrote in a birthday card to me that he feels so blessed to be my ‘grandson-in-law’, loves to here my stories and that I am a real blessing to him. Humbling words that bring some tears to the eyes. All five of my grandchildren are past 30 years old and I only have three great’s who have never lived close enough to really get to KNOW THEM ! The few times we have been together are priceless. But oh the memories of the first grandchild who did live close and we sure did enjoy her.Isn’t it wonderful we have good memories??
Thanks for another great one! Love, Margaret
Thank you, Margaret. Yes, we are blessed to have lived long enough to enjoy them near or far.
My granddaughters live about 90 minutes away- close enough to come for occasional “sleepovers” with Grammie (me)! This summer they stayed over several times and we had a great fun with lots of activities: movies, trips to the beach, crafts, games and lots of cuddling and story time! I can only imagine the fun I’ll have being a Great- Grammie! Thanks, Karen, for letting me have a peek into what that will be like!
Sending love and hugs across the miles….
Thanks, Glenda. Your summer with the girls sounds so wonderful. We are all planting memories that will last well past our time on earth. I’m glad we are all making the most of the opportunities we have now.
Well Karen, I’m not a grandma, but I can relate, b/c I am a grandparent. I have four kids, six grand kids, and 10 great grand kids. Like you, what a blessing the kids have been to me. They are twenty of the neatest people. I am putting together a legacy book for them so when the Lord comes for my spirit, they’ll know who they are and where they come from. Its title is “You’ve been my Life.” I missed the boat with my mom and dad. What a blessing it could have been to talk to them about their past, what they remember, their feelings on issues of the day, and just stuff. I’ve been adding to the book for three years now and have started a digital one complete with pictures. As usual Karen, great blog. Oh, and the blue lines on my previous wife’s legs, never did bother me. I know how she got them. By being on her feet carrying each of the kids at night when they woke up crying. The many days she worked away from home on cement floors. By pacing the floor with sick youngins, and by the countless other things she did as a terrific mom and wife. Instead of our kids, she is now repeating that love with our grands and great grands. God bless you Karen.
Thanks for your newsy and inspiring comment, Jim. I appreciate every word. I gave my three adult children (which they can pass on to their kids–my grands) a memoir of my early life for Christmas last year. I spent a good part of 2018 writing it and it was quite a journey for me to relive. I love that you are doing something similar for your family. Also thanks for the lovely testimony to your ex-wife and her committed mothering.
Karen, so cute and so funny. Yes, they say the funniest stuff. Like, I love you gramma Heidi, why does your neck have so many wrinkles?” Answer, “because I am old.” “How old are you?” “65” “well, I am 5 and I don’t have them yet.” We get to love them without all of the daily trials, right? Such a blessing. Love that photo of Marin and Dorian. My oldest grandson (18) goes off to University of San Diego Tuesday with hopes of becoming a doctor. Whew. We are truly blessed with the time we get with them. love, Heidi
Thanks, Heidi. I agree. The time we have with our ‘grands’ is precious indeed, especially as they grow up and start their own adult lives.
Grand & great-grandchildren are so special! How fun they are especially when they are toddlers I think they are so funny! God love ’em ….
Thanks for chiming in, Roz. I miss seeing you and hope all is well.
Lovely, Karen. I chuckled at your first point – cover your legs so your blue lines don’t show! Oh my, the honesty of children. While I don’t have grandchildren, I have grandnieces and nephews – and they are grand. So grateful for relationships with them, for enjoying their children, for living life with them.
Thanks, Carol, for sharing your wisdom and the joy you have when participating with your grand nieces and nephews. They’re lucky to have you.
I love being a grandma and I’m so thankful I have two of mine out here in California in the Bay Area but unfortunately my heart is sad that the other three I haven’t seen for the past 4 years.
Hi Sue. Good to hear from you after seeing you twice in the last couple of weeks. A treat for me! I have faraway grands too and some right here in town. As they grow up we don’t get to see them as often as we’d like. Their lives take over but we’ll always be their grandmas and I don’t think they’ll ever forget us and the love we have for them. I can still ‘feel’ the presence of my grandfather who died over 50 years ago.
Hi Karen, what wonderful topic. I have eight grandchildren and two greats.
One was born early August and the other one due early September.
The grands range in age from late 20’s to one teenager. They are at varying stages in life. They all are very dear to me. Their love and respect for me is a treasure. I always get a hug and a special greeting when we are together. Being together is a treat as they are spread all over the United States. Some in college and one married and expecting in early September.
One a Sophomore in high school. Their lives are busy but we do communicate by way of texting now and then.
Watching them grow into adults is pure joy.
Just a little bit of sadness…as I wish John could have been here to enjoy his grand children in this stage of their lives.
Thanks Karen
Thanks for your wonderful comment, Joan. It seems you and I are in the same stage of life. I have eight grands, one great and a second great on its way, due in January. The youngest grand is a junior in high school and the oldest is married. I have enjoyed every stage of their growing up and like you, we have wonderful loving relationships. Just as you miss sharing all these people with John, I too, miss having Charles here to enjoy all our beautiful grands and greats.
As a grandma of eight, I am so blessed to have them. One of my little granddaughters keeps reminding me that I am getting gray hair and that I snore!!!!! also this same child, who knows I don’t watch much TV because there is nothing on there worth putting in my brain. I have a collection of the old shows (black & white) like I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, etc. So, not long ago she pulled out a Lucy DVD to watch it and asked me, Grandma, what was it like living in the black and white days. !!!!!! So precious. Love their hearts!!!!
How adorable–“living in the black and white days.” These little ones are filled with surprises and delights. What would life be like without them? I spend every Thursday with my ‘great’ grandson and his mom and it’s the highlight of my week. Thanks for adding your comment. I appreciate hearing from you.