Monday, October 16, 2017

On Grandparenting

So I'm a grandmother. Well really a Nana or at least I'm trying to be. I quite often call myself Grandma so maybe I should just go with that. I need to figure it out before baby boy starts talking.

Oh he talks, just not in complete sentences yet-ha!

I'm so thankful for technology, and the way it allows me to watch him grow from so many miles away. And of course when his little face pops up on whatever screen we happen to be on I literally want to crawl through the glass and kiss his chubby cheeks in person.

Baby boy loves his chow and I can't wait to make all his favorite foods.

Once he's eating actual food of course, but let's not rush things because these early months are oh so precious. Babies whose age is still counted in weeks literally change before your very eyes. One minute they lack the muscle control needed for smiling and the next minute they're smiling. Life is an absolute miracle and grandparenting reminds you this is so.

Last week Daughter1 and her hubs took their lil' punkin to the pumpkin patch.


You know once upon a time hubs and I took our lil' punkin to the pumpkin patch too. This was back in the day before cell phones took over our lives so we didn't snap a picture until we'd already turned our find into a jack-o-lantern, but the memory is no less sweet.


This photo y'all! Here I'm young and naive about all the ways motherhood will change me, grow me, sanctify, and define me. All I knew for sure was I was head over heels in love with someone I'd met just four months prior.

Grandparenting is like that too, with a cherry on top. You lay eyes on this little person and your heart opens the door wide to a love that feels positively endless. But this new love is layered in all the best ways with your first love. Your child. The one you raised who is now the one raising.

Someone asked me recently what was my favorite thing about being a Nana, and it's many things but mostly it is this-


It's watching the girl who just yesterday sat atop my lap on a front porch stoop mother her very own son. It's watching her find the rhythm of her own life.

It's remembering the sweetness of all the firsts, and how every day I knew her just a little bit better than the day before. It's remembering the wonder I felt as love was multiplied and I'd say to myself, 'what a wonderful world'.  

Some things don't change.

15 comments:

  1. Well said my friend. Grandparenting is wonderful! My daughter decided she wants her son to call me Gigi, so Gigi it is. However, I just bought him a little shirt with Grandma on it. lol. I couldn’t resist.

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  2. You've managed to capture for sure some of those unexplainable (in a way) moments of being a grandparent. How it's all wrapped up with love for your own child and watching them with theirs. Wait until said grandchild begins saying your name, or breaking into a big smile and running when they see you, or crying when you leave, or growing older and calling you on the phone and saying, grandma I HAVE to talk to you. It just keeps getting better and better...just when you think it couldn't possibly. 😊 If I had my way NO ONE would miss out on the wonder of grandkids. Have a good week!

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  3. I forwarded this to my sis in law who became a grandma last week. You said it so well.

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  4. You are truly a word master, Joyce. Grandparenting is certainly one of life's greatest blessings. You have captured it well in this post.

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  5. What a beautiful post, Joyce. What you wrote just under that last photo of your little girl and her little boy reminded me of a poem I read many years ago, just as I was becoming a mama myself: Turn Around.

    Have a blessed evening. :)

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  6. Amen Sistah!!! We've been blessed with 6 grands (so far!) ranging from 19 months to 7 yrs............and everytime I see my sons with their sons and daughters, my heart melts into a million little tiny hearts!!
    Enjoy yours!

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  7. How cute. I want to be called Grammy, but Charlie started calling me Bubba and then it became Nana. And Nana it has stayed.

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  8. You describe it so well Joyce this Grandparent thing and how love just multiplies. Keep up the good words and pics. It never gets old.

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  9. Beautifully said, Joyce! Loved seeing that little fella in the pumpkin patch. What a happy baby he looks to be!

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  10. I became a grandparent for the first time this August to a dear little boy and am growing into my new title of Nana. The name was decided by my daughters, "Well, you have to be Nana because your mother was from Scotland and it's the tradition." It seemed rather strange at first because that's what they called my mother, but I'm glad that they chose it.

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  11. Such a sweet post and I've been keeping up with your trip up the PCH and I know you are working your way to that sweet boy. He's developing his little personality now and you are in for such a treat. We're on our way to see our Ok. boys tomorrow. Enjoy!

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  12. Beautiful post with beautiful words. You brought tears to my eyes.

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  13. So so true Joyce! You described the moments I enjoy most too! I feel so much pride seeing how my daughter manages her little one and so much love! I hope you are enjoying your time with them right now!

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