Inside Motherhood

Why I look forward to being a grandparent

by Sherry on July 2nd, 2007

I know some people don’t feel like they’re old enough to be a grandmother when the big event happens. My mother-in-law didn’t, and insisted that my first-born call her Nana because she was “not old enough to be a Granny”. No problem! My own mother didn’t really care what she was called but she didn’t seem old enough to be a grandmother either since she was still MY mom.

Either way, I look forward to it in the future. Granted, my kids are 4.5 and 19 months, so I’m not rushing things, and I would prefer to avoid finding out I’m a grandmother when my kids are teenagers. But when the day finally comes? Hooray. Want to know why?

Because for three days straight it was non-stop arguing and debating and time-out-ing around here. I had no idea that a kid who was almost five could be so much like a teenager; all she’s missing is the eye rolling and hair toss. She already has the “Mooooo-oooom!” down perfectly. Getting her to sit at the table is an exercise in futility and I was ready to pull my hair out.

When my mother-in-law called to ask if they could come get her for the rest of the day and for supper I had a minor dilemma - say no as a consequence to some unpleasant behavior or let her go so that we could have a short break from each other?

Duh. I let her go!

And as usual, when she was brought home I found out that she had helped set the table, she had eaten all her supper without trying to leave the table, she was well-behaved and polite, she played without any screaming at anyone, and listened when it was time to leave the park to be brought home.

What?! Why is it that kids will listen at their grandparents’ house but not at home? My oldest would never dream of climbing all over her grandmother’s couch but ours at home is apparently a jungle gym.

So I look forward to having grandchildren some day so that I will eventually have a small child or two who will actually listen. I hope.

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POSTED IN: Family, Parenting, Those Crazy Kids