Let Me Do It

I am writing this blog today to my children and their spouses.  It's a blog that I am writing to share with you just how much I love you and love your children.  And, it's a blog to convey a message--
let me do it, please.

You see, some of my greatest memories are of my times with my paternal grandmother.  She was my favorite, as are your children, mine.  I loved her so much.  In many ways, she was a lot like me.  Goofy, funny, silly and a dreamer.  Yes, we had differences, but that made our relationship even fuller.  My memories carry me through times of looking back, times of longing and times of reflection. 

I believe that my relationship with my grandma has played a huge part in my relationships with your children.  For instance, I like taking them shopping--5 Below and Target are their favorites, mine was Thrifty Drug store.  My grandma would give me a couple of dollars and I usually bought nail polish. There were no restrictions--I loved that.  Any color.  Cool. 
We'd get 5 cent ice cream cones and walk around the store, just browsing and talking.  She listened to me, and I could say anything.  Your kids can also.  They can tell me anything, and I'll listen.

My grandkids like going to the local frozen custard stands and getting those soft-serve cones, yum.  Maybe, we even top it off the next morning (if they spend the night) with donuts.  It doesn't get better than that.  So let me, let me make those memories with my grandkids too, please.

I also remember times of playing in the sprinklers with my cousins.  Laughing, playing tag, or not it, or any other dumb game we could come up with.  Cousin time, it's the best, especially at grandma's house.  Get it?

You know, I never thought of my grandmother as babysitting me.  I was just at --grandma's house.  I had fun being with her, just as I hope your kids have fun being with me.  I realize that I can't recreate the exact times and places that I had with my grandmother, but I can create new times, our times, grandma times.

I tease sometimes that I am willing to buy their love.  I buy them simple things though if you think about it.  Water guns, silly string, and sidewalk chalk--little things that in their future will come with big memories.  That's what I'm created--big memories.  So please, let me.

With my youngest grandchild being 3 years old and my oldest being 17, I see that this grandma time has a shelf life.  I'm thinking that within the next 10 years or so, my time will be up--for making these memories.  10 years.  That's just not enough time for me.  I long for more--time.  I want to hug them, have sleepovers, buy them junk food and dumb toys.  I want to read to them, go camping with them and just plain old hang out with them.  I want to do so many things, and yet, I do see off on the horizon--an end time.  And it makes me sad.

So, do me this one favor.  Let me do it.  Let me be with them.  Spoil them.  Spend money on them. 
I only have a little time left to make an impression on them, make memories for them, let me be a grandma.  For just a little while longer.  Let me do it.

And now, I'm speaking to you in-law kiddos of mine.  I hope you all know just how much I love you guys.  Wow, what special people you are.  Wonderful partners for my children, awesome parents to my grandchildren.  What a true blessing and answer to prayer.  I did pray, you know. Hard.  Once I found out that I was pregnant, I prayed.  I prayed so very hard over my babies.  I laid my hands upon my stomach and asked God for so many things.  Too many probably, but that's just how much I loved those babies of mine.  And I prayed for their spouses even then.  It might sound crazy, but you all know me by now.  I'm a real planner, so I figured I'd get a head start.  And God answered my prayers.  He brought all of you into their lives, and into our lives.  And then along came my grandchildren.  One by one until there were 7.  What a blessing, again.  I feel blessed beyond measure.

And now, do me a favor, I want you to look at your kids today and try to imagine them married with children.  Think about how much you love your kids.  Really think.  It brings you to tears, doesn't it?  Now imagine loving their kids, your grandkids--their flesh and blood, your flesh and blood.  You'd do anything for them. 

That's how I feel.  So, let me do it.  I don't consider it babysitting.  I don't consider it a favor.  I don't consider it anything other than being blessed enough by the God that I love and serve to get to love on and spoil my grandbabies.  So, let me do it.  Capisce?  And stop it.  Stop making me feel as though I'm doing you a huge favor.  I'm not.  Don't you get it?  You're doing me one.  You are the one doing me the favor. Nothing makes me happier than spending time with my grandkids, nothing.

So, here is the take away from this long blog.  My grandma loved me.  I loved her.  I also love my kids and their kids.  And, they love me.  Let us develop our own relationships.  Believe me, you'll understand one day.

Continue, without guilt, to ask me to babysit, no! not babysit, ask me to be their grandma for just a little while longer.  OK?  I want to do it, let me!

So, who needs a grandma?  I'm available.