Chris has been getting to hang with my mom this week while we’ve been out of town. (More on that later.)
Through the years, Grandma and Papa have been lifesavers. At times, the kids have gone to Missouri; at other times Grandma has come to our home.
When Megan was alive, once a year Mom would keep the kids for a week. It’s hard to explain what a gift that was. Megan, our beloved daughter, was challenging. Mentally-handicapped, of course. But on the go all the time, seldom napping and sleeping very little at night. In her stronger days, she marched around the house getting into things 22-7.
Family was wonderful. But marriage was hard. We were always tired. Those trips always rejuvenated us.
Once we left for 10 days. I was a guest speaker for a Christian group on a cruise. (I believe with politicians we call this a junket.)
When we returned we were tanned and rested. Mom was looking a bit worn. She smiled and said, “I think I’m a 7-day grandma.” We learned later that she had called a friend and offered her a hundred million dollars to come take over for half an hour.
Now it’s not quite so challenging, but there’s still no one better than Grandma to take over when Mom and Dad are gone.
There is nothing that a grandmom loves better than to have that beloved grandchild all lone without parents around! Good for all concerned!
When we leave our kids with Grandma they live on Monical’s Pizza and Fannie Mae candy. Once our daughter told us on the phone “Grandma said not to tell you how many pieces of candy I’ve had, but I’ll give you a hint, it’s more than 9!!” That’s what grandparents are all about!
We depend on grandmas these days. And you should see these grandmas navigate the city (NYC) as if they grew up here. It’s impressive but they’ll do anything for their grandkids. And thank God they will!
Even though the methods change, our parent still take care of us even after we’ve left the nest, don’t they?
I can’t even being to enumerate the instances of care we’ve received from my parents and my in-laws over the years. I’m sure the fact that I’m still semi-sane has much to do with their willingness to be there for us.
While I had my precious granddaughter a few months back so her mom and dad could celebrate their anniversary, my daughter brought back a T-shirt that had sodas, ice cream and french fries on it, the caption read:
What happens at Grandma’s, stays at Grandma’s!
A huge compliment!
I love how Megan’s legacy lives on and how she continues, through you, to teach us.
Ashley is still raving about getting to stay in “Megan’s Room.”
I wish I could go stay a week with my mamaw at her house! If it were like the old days, she would let me “help” her wash dishes, we’d go to the attic and play dress up in those old dresses and high heels… we’d have butter and sugar sandwiches for breakfast…we might even go to Stanley’s pond and fish if it was warm enough!
Grandmas are simply the best. Thanks for sharing this Mike. I’d be interested in your thoughts following Coretta Scott King’s funeral. It was incredibly moving just to watch snippets of the funeral on television. Brent Rogers says to say hi from Japan.
My Grandmother was a safe place in an unsafe world…
Amen. She is a living example.
My grandma was larger-than-life in my younger days, though she is actually only 4 and 1/2 feet tall!
She would play WITH us and help us build tree houses!
Today, I have a son of my own, and I’m not so sure my grandma wouldn’t still try to build tree houses with him in a few years!
You have wonderful parents Mike. I got to see them last fall when they came to my mother’s funeral. It had been a long time. I will forever be grateful for the help they gave me.
Grandmas are just antique little girls…
Mike,
The kids must really have special grandparents. I know you all have been through a lot and it is great to hear about the love you all continue to have as a family.
Ron Clark
I look forward to being one of those wonderful grandmoms! What a blessing.