My grandma was
the kind of grandma that canned veggies from her garden, strangled
chickens that she raised, gutted and cleaned hogs for curing, sewed
quilts and dresses, went to town once a week for supplies that she
didn't make or grow and helped grandpa during tobacco harvesting time.
She put on her "Sunday best" wig and hat, donned her deaconess white
suit and vinyl black handbag with the customary mints with the hint of
moth balls. She lined us all up for Saturday night baths in that big ol'
washing tub and scrubbed the skin off of us! Grandma wore knee highs
that she knotted at the thighs and cat eye classes. During the weekdays
she wore her house "frock" with her everyday apron and Saturdays she
wore her "Second best." She fed the tall wirier fire and brimstone
preacher and his mean ol' hawk nosed wife Sunday dinner. Grandma reigned
Queen and all of us adored her. During the summer she would have just
about all her grandchildren around her. All 27. Before she died she had
fifteen great grands. She was a faithful and loving wife and mother and
strict but affectionate grandma.
I am SO different. I'm a forty-something year old grandma to three rambunctious boys (ages 3.5, 2 and 1.5 years old and a 2 month old grandson). My husband and I have 4 children, (son-27, daughter-26, daughter-22, son-16) Our grand-blessings come by way of the girls. Let me just say this: God knew what he was doing when he gave the girls sons and not daughters! Thank you Jesus, I can't deal with mini hormones at this stage in my life!
Being a grandmom (Mom as they call me) is the next most fulfilling thing I've ever done. I get to love my Littles with abandon. I'm young enough to remember the mistakes I made with my children and can impart my wisdom to my children so they can avoid the heartache and drama. When we do the math I'm not so far from them in understanding. My kids and I often listen to the same music and discus current trends. They are always frustrated that I get the new tech gadgets and can actually USE them before they do!
The best part of my being a grandmom at a young age is that I still have energy to run and play with my boys! They are so active and inquisitive and it takes a LOT of stamina to keep up with them. My husband and I often sit back and watch them move non-stop between three rooms. We don't sleep. We're scared to. They watch us. Seriously. Up til a few months ago the boys would be put to bed in their uncles bedroom. They would watch him until he fell asleep and then creep out the room. All of the sudden there's a pitter patter of two pairs of feet and then the banging open of our bedroom door and two squiggly bodies jumping on our bed. This would always happen between the hours of 1 and 3 am. My son sleeps through the melee of squeals and peals and the occasional head diving off the bed. How do you sleep through that?!! We hear it and we're on the other side of the house! The uncle has gotten wiser and has learned to make sure the door is more securely shut! Personally I think they can get out but choose not to simply because its no longer worth the hassle.
Did I mention that I'm a full time student? Yep, I am a double major in English and History. I'm goal is to obtain my masters in Library Sciences. Seeing as we'll probably have to work til we're in our 90's I decided to pick a career that wont drive me to an early grave. Did I also mention that every year since I started back to school I've watched one of my babies (the grands) being born? Every year for the past three years I attended a birth. Everyone.
So, as you can see, I'm not MY grandmother. I strive to be like her in so many ways. Unfortunately, I can't sew and I'm no good in the garden and I buy my chickens kilt and plucked. Since I can't be her I guess I might as well be me!
Funny about that though. I'm 40 something and working on my double bachelors degree in English and History. I work once a week in an independently owned bookstore. I have over a thousand books on my bookshelf and haven't had time to read half of them. Everyday I plan to do a little more but at this stage in the game I'm just not very organized or disciplined. My life is hectic and because of this I seem to put things off because I know the very moment I effect my plan, my phone rings and drama ensues. It aint easy being me.
Don't think I'm complaining though. I love my family and would do anything for them! Sometimes I just fit what I need to do for me in between errands. Long ago I decided that family came first and my legacy to my loved ones will be one of love. My grands will remember that I ALWAYS made time for them just like my kids. Nothing is more important, outside of the Trinity (God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) than they are; no job, no fortune no outside influences. Of course this means we'll be broke but so what? God provides!
I am SO different. I'm a forty-something year old grandma to three rambunctious boys (ages 3.5, 2 and 1.5 years old and a 2 month old grandson). My husband and I have 4 children, (son-27, daughter-26, daughter-22, son-16) Our grand-blessings come by way of the girls. Let me just say this: God knew what he was doing when he gave the girls sons and not daughters! Thank you Jesus, I can't deal with mini hormones at this stage in my life!
Being a grandmom (Mom as they call me) is the next most fulfilling thing I've ever done. I get to love my Littles with abandon. I'm young enough to remember the mistakes I made with my children and can impart my wisdom to my children so they can avoid the heartache and drama. When we do the math I'm not so far from them in understanding. My kids and I often listen to the same music and discus current trends. They are always frustrated that I get the new tech gadgets and can actually USE them before they do!
The best part of my being a grandmom at a young age is that I still have energy to run and play with my boys! They are so active and inquisitive and it takes a LOT of stamina to keep up with them. My husband and I often sit back and watch them move non-stop between three rooms. We don't sleep. We're scared to. They watch us. Seriously. Up til a few months ago the boys would be put to bed in their uncles bedroom. They would watch him until he fell asleep and then creep out the room. All of the sudden there's a pitter patter of two pairs of feet and then the banging open of our bedroom door and two squiggly bodies jumping on our bed. This would always happen between the hours of 1 and 3 am. My son sleeps through the melee of squeals and peals and the occasional head diving off the bed. How do you sleep through that?!! We hear it and we're on the other side of the house! The uncle has gotten wiser and has learned to make sure the door is more securely shut! Personally I think they can get out but choose not to simply because its no longer worth the hassle.
Did I mention that I'm a full time student? Yep, I am a double major in English and History. I'm goal is to obtain my masters in Library Sciences. Seeing as we'll probably have to work til we're in our 90's I decided to pick a career that wont drive me to an early grave. Did I also mention that every year since I started back to school I've watched one of my babies (the grands) being born? Every year for the past three years I attended a birth. Everyone.
So, as you can see, I'm not MY grandmother. I strive to be like her in so many ways. Unfortunately, I can't sew and I'm no good in the garden and I buy my chickens kilt and plucked. Since I can't be her I guess I might as well be me!
Funny about that though. I'm 40 something and working on my double bachelors degree in English and History. I work once a week in an independently owned bookstore. I have over a thousand books on my bookshelf and haven't had time to read half of them. Everyday I plan to do a little more but at this stage in the game I'm just not very organized or disciplined. My life is hectic and because of this I seem to put things off because I know the very moment I effect my plan, my phone rings and drama ensues. It aint easy being me.
Don't think I'm complaining though. I love my family and would do anything for them! Sometimes I just fit what I need to do for me in between errands. Long ago I decided that family came first and my legacy to my loved ones will be one of love. My grands will remember that I ALWAYS made time for them just like my kids. Nothing is more important, outside of the Trinity (God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) than they are; no job, no fortune no outside influences. Of course this means we'll be broke but so what? God provides!
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