What's It Like

It was an innocent question asked by a new friend.  She wanted to know.  What's it like?  You know, what's it like to be a grandma?  As I sat there pondering her question all sorts of answers came to mind.  I couldn't decide where to start first.  So, I did what made sense to me--I started at the beginning.

I became a grandmother 10 years ago when my daughter gave birth to a tiny little baby boy.  Now, I don't know how it is for most grandmothers, but I do know how it was for me.  We flew to California from Ohio when he was just a few days old and the very minute that baby boy was laid in my arms--well, that baby became my baby.  He nestled in all snugly like and I swear he looked right at me as if to say hello grandma!  


What's it like?  The best way to describe it is this way--it felt as though I had given birth once again, as if that little baby boy was mine, all mine.  However, out of the goodness of my heart, I was going to let my daughter and son-in-law have this little baby to raise.  I'm not kidding, that's exactly how I felt.  Because when I held that baby, he felt just like how my own little babies felt when I held them.  Tiny and beautiful--he was my first grandson.   He'll always be very special to me--my little one.

I wondered at the time if the reason he was so special to me and if the reason it felt like he was my own child was that he was my daughter's.  Would I feel the same way when my sons started their families?  Guess what?  The answer is yes.  Yes, they do feel as if they are mine too!  It's the strangest, yet most natural feeling.  The emotional ties are there as strong as ever.  There is an overprotective mama bear type of feeling that is projected--you hurt my kid (or grandkid) I'll rip off your arm--yes, that type of feeling overtakes grandmas too.  I know--it's strange but true.  Maybe that's why it's a no-brainer when sometimes something horrible happens and the grandmother is called upon to raise the grandchild.  Who else would do it?  Why--the grandmother of course!  She's the GRANDmother.

Perhaps I am not doing a very good job in explaining these emotions that I feel for my 5 grandchildren.  Perhaps I am alone in this crazy type of bond.  However, I seriously doubt it.  I'm willing to bet that most ALL grandmothers feel the same way I do.

So, that's what it's like.  As I finished explaining to her the joys of grandparenting I looked over and there were tears in her eyes.  She then said--I can't wait!   And you know what?  Neither could I.  It's the best thing in life that God has blessed me with thus far!

What's it like?  It's awesome.  It's wonderful.  It's amazing.  They look like your children, act like them, even smell like them.  They talk like them, walk like them, and as they grow older each year, they just become more and more like their parents.  It's like getting to watch your children grow up all over again.  And grandkids are fun.  No one ever tells you that.  They are cute and funny and full of life.

What's it like?  It's like Christmas every day.