Grilled Grandma: Penny

How many children do you have? Four

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? Three of the cutest varmints ever; the Bug is 7; the Worm is 5, and the Mouse is 15 mo.

What do your grandchildren call you? Grandma

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? Unfortunately, the condition of the world, and how scary it is to have children in this day and age.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Once or twice a week

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Can be the total “Disneyland Grandma” and not feel guilty. And that they never doubt my love for them, nor their love for me.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Just the right blend of input, without stepping on anyone’s toes.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. My grandchildren were helping me with a garage sale a few weeks ago. I told them to make signs to attract customers. The 7 year old, taped a sign on an old door I was selling. “$7.00 – cough up the cash.” We sold it, and he earned $1 for advertising.

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? They love to play made-up games. Sometimes we plan a zoo and have to name the male, female, and baby of the species. Sometimes we play detective and have to interview Grandpa to find something he’s lost recently. We build obstacle courses and time each other.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? We’ve built tents in their rooms and had pretend campouts. We generally play board games.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? There’s not much time in between, but we sometimes talk on the phone.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? Love of and importance of family.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Love and loyalty.

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? I have always felt with my own children, patience escaped me. I vowed I would do better with my grandchildren and I think I have, but I still have my moments of times when I am less patient – when I recently wanted my grandson to learn to ride a bike and he had no interest. Incidentally, he won. You can’t drive a horse to water or a kid to balance. J

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? To take advantage of every moment.

Just in case you didn't figure it out from this grilling, Grandma Penny has one heckuva sense of humor. Need more proof? Visit her blog, So Humor Me, for chuckles galore.