Blessed are You Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and allowed us to reach this season.
I murmured the prayer over and over again late Friday afternoon, June 4. It was, for me, nothing short of a miracle. Riley Giselle, was born and poof, I was a Grandma. In some ways, the joy was greater than when I first became a mother. Then all the love and excitement was tinged with fear: Was I up to the job of taking care of a small wonderful child? Now, my only job was to love, love, love her. Somebody else would figure out how to pay for college!
Like most teenage girls, I had “issues” with my mother. I knew, heavens I was certain, that I would do things differently. As my own children reached adolescence, however, I found myself setting the same standards that my own mother had demanded. As Mark Twain so aptly put it, "When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." It took me a little longer, but ah yes, I discovered just how smart my mother really was.
But from the moment that my first child was born, I was in awe of both my mother and my in-laws as grandparents. My own dad sadly never got to meet my kids. But Grandma, Nana, and Pop-Pop had such bottomless love for each of their grandchildren. Their patience was limitless, but of course, even seven days into this grandparenting gig, I now realize that patience is easier when you can hand the little bundle back at the end of the day.
Alex Haley once said, “Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” I like even better, and that may be the foodie in me, the quote I found, source unknown, who said, “Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting.”
But most of all, I am giddy, thrilled, and feeling so incredibly blessed that Riley Giselle is now in my life.
Just call me Grandma, the Northern half of Evelyn David
Congrats, Marian! You will be a most fabulous grandma! Sprinkle lots of stardust and add plenty of icing on the cupcakes. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMazel tov! You will be the greatest grandmother. I know this for certain. Enjoy Riley.
ReplyDeleteI once asked my mother if she loved my daughter more than she love me and she said (without hesitation), "Yes." She was only half-kidding. But as a mother, daughter, and granddaughter, I get it. I had a wonderful grandmother and she was there to spoil me. That was her only job. Now it falls to my mother to do that to my kids. All best Marian! Love--Maggie
Many thanks. It's only been 10 days, but I can't remember when Riley wasn't here!
ReplyDeleteHope I can be as good a Grandma as you had Maggie. She sounds wonderful.
Marian
Congratulations, Grandma! I'm not a grandmother yet - but I look forward to that time.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky to have my great-grandmother around until I was nearly 30 - and my own daughter was blessed with two grandmothers, four great-grandmothers, and one great-great grandmother until she was nine.
...yes, we had lots of frosting and sprinkles!
Kess
H'mm, I left a comment and it disappeared. Trying once again. Congratulations, Grandma! Do a lot of spoiling, that's what grandmas are for. And kids love their grandmas and great-grandmas--even if they might think them a wee bit eccentric.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Marian,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Grandma Club. No other club like it in all the world!
Congratulations to the family.
Maribeth
Giggles and Guns
Thanks to all for your warm wishes. The Grandma club is such a welcoming group!
ReplyDeleteMarian
Congratulations! What a wonderful blessing!
ReplyDelete