I am looking forward with great delight to early May next year, when my wonderful daughter and son-in-law will become parents and I, by default, will become a grandmother! Truly, I never planned to reach this stage, but now that it's here I am ecstatic.
You can imagine the type of grandmother I'll be. The baby already has a meager library of six books--all signed by the authors--and it's not even born yet! In order to spread the wealth I will be giving the new parents baby clothes for Christmas, and perhaps a few boxes of disposable diapers (do they come in boxes?).
Speaking of diapers, this heartwarming event will give me lots to consider about baby care, since it's been 29 years--gasp--since I've been on that job. Believe it or not, I raised a child without disposable diapers and a diaper genie, without a snugli, and without a lot of other neat stuff that lines the shelves today. The only essential was a blanket with a silky edge, and this baby's silky is already wrapped for giving!
Boy or girl? We suspect, at this point, that the new addition to the family will be a girl. That makes it easy for me, since I raised a girl. I'll be able to tell her great stories about her mother and what she put us through. On the other hand, a boy would be good, too; I really love my son-in-law, so a small version of him would be just fine. I'll take whatever they--and God--present me with, and do my best to be a memorable grandma.
My grandmothers were memorable, each for different reasons. They both lived through the Great Depression as young adults, so they knew how to be frugal. My grandmother Kathleen was a great cook, loving and welcoming, but she worked hard to cook, clean, and keep a home for a husband, a daughter (my Mom), and four sons. When I played the old upright piano at her house, she was one of the first to recognize my interest in piano, and she provided my first year of lessons.
Grandma Helen, my father's mother, was a tremendous baker. She made the best "snails" - sweet rolls--I ever ate. And she was generous, because she let me eat as many as I wanted. A tall, stately woman with thick brown hair, just slightly gray at the temples, she enjoyed playing cards, telling jokes, and having fun. When my grandfather died, she lived with us for four four years, giving me some wonderful childhood memories to cherish.
I won't be like Kathleen or Helen, though. As a writer, I suspect that my grandmotherly attributes will show up as I tell the baby tales, so stay tuned!
Mrs. B
You can imagine the type of grandmother I'll be. The baby already has a meager library of six books--all signed by the authors--and it's not even born yet! In order to spread the wealth I will be giving the new parents baby clothes for Christmas, and perhaps a few boxes of disposable diapers (do they come in boxes?).
Speaking of diapers, this heartwarming event will give me lots to consider about baby care, since it's been 29 years--gasp--since I've been on that job. Believe it or not, I raised a child without disposable diapers and a diaper genie, without a snugli, and without a lot of other neat stuff that lines the shelves today. The only essential was a blanket with a silky edge, and this baby's silky is already wrapped for giving!
Boy or girl? We suspect, at this point, that the new addition to the family will be a girl. That makes it easy for me, since I raised a girl. I'll be able to tell her great stories about her mother and what she put us through. On the other hand, a boy would be good, too; I really love my son-in-law, so a small version of him would be just fine. I'll take whatever they--and God--present me with, and do my best to be a memorable grandma.
My grandmothers were memorable, each for different reasons. They both lived through the Great Depression as young adults, so they knew how to be frugal. My grandmother Kathleen was a great cook, loving and welcoming, but she worked hard to cook, clean, and keep a home for a husband, a daughter (my Mom), and four sons. When I played the old upright piano at her house, she was one of the first to recognize my interest in piano, and she provided my first year of lessons.
Grandma Helen, my father's mother, was a tremendous baker. She made the best "snails" - sweet rolls--I ever ate. And she was generous, because she let me eat as many as I wanted. A tall, stately woman with thick brown hair, just slightly gray at the temples, she enjoyed playing cards, telling jokes, and having fun. When my grandfather died, she lived with us for four four years, giving me some wonderful childhood memories to cherish.
I won't be like Kathleen or Helen, though. As a writer, I suspect that my grandmotherly attributes will show up as I tell the baby tales, so stay tuned!
Mrs. B
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