GRANDCHILDREN

Written By: Camille Hord

When I first found out that I was going to be a grandmother, I didn’t quite take to the fact that I was going to be Grandma.  I felt too young and cool for that.  (I wasn’t that young, just perceived that I was).

When the first granddaughter was born, it changed everything for me. Here was this little pink doll with the biggest blue eyes, just like her mothers were.  I couldn’t wait until  she got old enough so I could start taking her to do things.  Our first outing was to see Disney on Ice. I think she was about three and a half at that time. I just got a warm feeling hearing her little laugh and watching her eyes get as big as saucers, as she jumped up and down.  As I recall, our second outing was to see our cousin dance in a ballet and again she was amazed at the costumes and colors.  After the ballet, I asked where she wanted to go and she said “Donalds”, so off to McDonald’s we went.  I know, not the healthiest place but I am the grandmother.  As she was finishing her fries, she said “I think it’s time for me to go home and see Mommy”.  She had been away long enough.

A few years later came the second Grandchild.  Oh boy another girl for me to spoil with girly stuff!  It got to be a tradition that when they spent the night with me, we would go to Circus Café for dinner and then across the street to Border’s so they could each buy a book.  We then went home and all climbed into my bed and read our new books.  The next morning we would get in the car, in our jammies, and go to Dunkin Donuts.  When their Mom picked them up she warned them that they had to eat healthy for the next week at home.

Now they are 17, and 13, and we don’t have as many sleepovers because they have little lives of their own as well as being involved with sports most weekends.  I was fortunate to have the youngest spend the night last weekend and when we got up in the morning she asked if we could go to Dunkin Donuts in our jammies, like the old days.  She said she missed that tradition. It’s nice to know that she remembered those special times.

It’s amazing that the things I used to get angry with their mother for, I now laugh at when they do it. When one or the other is in trouble with Mom or Dad, I’m the first one they text.  Sometimes that doesn’t sit well with my daughter, but oh well, too bad, I’m the grandmother.

When the first one was born I dreamed about seeing her go to her first Prom.  Well, my dream is coming true this weekend and I can’t wait to see her in her beautiful gown.  Where did the time go?  It seems like just yesterday she was a baby, now she is a beautiful, smart, athletic young woman.