Everyone Should Be a Grandparent

I married at the ripe old age of 16, following my mother's example. We both had very long and happy marriages and became mothers while still in our teens. My mother became a grandmother at the ripe old age of 36 and loved every minute of it. She was a very good grandmother.

My three boys did not follow in my footsteps. They took their sweet time about getting married, even though I was quite eager to welcome my first grandchild. My oldest son waited until he was 30 to tie the knot, and his two brothers did the same. I didn't become a grandma until I was almost 50! But that first grandchild made the wait worthwhile and it was love at first sight.

I had to wait six years for granddaughter number two, and another six for my first grandson. The grand total of children who call me Grandma is five - three girls and two boys. They range in age from 19 to 4 and I love them all dearly.

I watch the three youngest (7, 6 and 4) two or three days a week. School started this week so I don't put in a full day, but I take them to and from school on the days they're with their dad. I drive to my son's house, take the boys to school, then wait a half-hour for preschool to begin. Preschool gets out at noon, so I take the munchkin home for lunch and a nap and pick the boys up later in the afternoon. Weird schedule, but whatcha gonna do?

They can be a handful at times, but who else would ask me to become Zombie Grandma and chase them around the house while they scream and laugh? They could keep this up for hours, but I wear out pretty quickly these days.

Thanks to my grandchildren, I can sing along with the "Sponge Bob" theme song and I know what Phineas and Ferb are going to do today. I know who "those meddling kids" are and that Zack and Cody are bound to make trouble for Mr. Moseby. (Parents of youngsters will also have this special knowledge.)

Nothing has given me greater joy than my grandbabies (which is how I will think of them regardless of how old they get). I wish everyone could experience the joy and wonder of being a grandparent. The world looks pretty good from Grandma's lap.