9 things I now understand about grandmas
When I was young, my grandmas were strange yet beloved creatures. As I grew older, I realized it wasn't just my grandmas, but that most grandmas seemed to be strange creatures, all with interesting, amusing, sometimes even downright baffling quirks and mannerisms.
Well, in the short time since joining the ranks of the strange creatures known as grandmas, I've learned they're not so strange after all. While some quirks and mannerisms still remain a mystery, here are ...
9 THINGS I NOW UNDERSTAND ABOUT GRANDMAS
1. I now understand why grandmas wear their eyeglasses on chains around their necks. With six pair of glasses strategically placed around the house, I definitely see the value of wearing them around the neck. I don't do it (yet), but I now understand it.
2. I now understand why grandmas always have the best snacks ever in their kitchens. It's not because their cabinets are always filled with such goodies (Grandma -- and Grandpa -- would weigh 10 tons each if that were the case). It's because they stock up before the little ones visit, ensuring no culinary craving of a grandchild goes unsatisfied.
3. I now understand why grandmas are such excellent cooks ... and/or bakers. They've had years of experience, so what else might one expect? More importantly, though, all their kitchen concoctions include heaping helpings of love, which makes all the difference in the world.
4. I now understand why grandmas are in their jammies by 8 p.m. As it's no longer likely someone will stop by for a visit that "late," why not get comfortable. And even if some night owl did stop by for a visit, grandmas no longer really give a hoot what someone may think of them being in their jammies by 8 p.m. -- or any other time.
5. I now understand why grandmas back in the day wore dresses more often than not. Gosh! It took me years to realize dresses are soooo much more comfortable than pants ... especially jeans. Luckily the house dresses of old are no longer the only casual dress options for grandmas.
6. I now understand why grandmas place protective coverings over the "good furniture." Although I first saw the light on this one in terms of keeping cat hair off certain chairs, I quickly realized how handy it could be for easy cleanup of baby spit-up, leaking diapers or little hands covered in popcorn butter while enjoying a flick with Grandma and Grandpa.
7. I now understand why grandmas spout so many sage (and sometimes silly) words of advice. After years and years of collecting witticisms and adages it's hard not to pass them along to those little pitchers with big ears -- or big pitchers who should use those big ears more often.
8. I now understand why grandmas squeeze their grandchildren so tightly when they hug them. It's because they love the kiddos so darn much they just want to eat them up. Eating them would be rather bizarre though (not to mention illegal), so grandmas simply squeeze and squeeze and squeeze until the impulse to nibble passes ... or until the grandchildren wriggle away.
9. I now understand why grandmas have non-stop smiles on their faces when with their grandkids. The reason? Because nothing -- absolutely nothing -- fills up grandmas and makes them quite as happy as the moments they spend with their grandchildren. (That, or they've just gotten lazy in their old age and are following their own advice regarding it taking 43 muscles to frown yet only a mere 17 to smile.)
Photo courtesy Flickr/freeparking
Today's question:
What do you find amusing, interesting, baffling or bizarre about grandmas -- yours or others' (or even yourself)?
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Reader Comments (13)
Yea, I'm guilty of number 7. I've seen my sons roll their eyes on more than one occasion........while I'm giving that priceless advice! Love 8 and 9. Soooooo true!
I love this post! I have to agree with everything you said because it's all so true!
My grandmothers (and even my mother as a grandmother) wanted to feed the grandkids who came to visit as soon as they walked in the door. It didn't matter what time of the day or night it was, they would insist on fixing a meal complete with dessert "just for you"!
I agree with your post! I remember both of my grandmothers going out of there way to do anything and everything to make me happy. Then I saw my mother do the same thing when she became a grandma and of course it has carried on to me. That's just what grandmas do!
Grandmas just want to give of themselves and hope their gift will be well-received, whether some sage advice, a funny story or special food; I know I, somehow, equate food with love, and I remember seeing that first from my beloved "Granny" with her chocolate and banana layer cake or lemon meringue pie or marvelous fried chicken. Her biscuits will never be equaled and I know, as hard as it is to understand, my beautiful little baby girl has become one of those all-loving people known as a "grandma" to a sweet little boy called Bubby and she now gives everything she can to him, just like my granny gave me because it's just the way to show love.
love this post---
Another excellent Grandma post! I find it interesting the names that Grandmas go by and where they come from. I had one who was a Nana and the other became MiMi because when I was a baby I would stand in the playpen, arms outstretched, hollering MiMi at her. In truth I suspect that I was demanding that attention be paid to ME ME but it works! Her name was Susie but by the time I was aware of such things everyone in my world called her MiMi for the rest of her life! My mom chose names for herself and my dad when my youngest was 6 months old. NiNi and Gumba. They stuck for a little while but ultimately they became Grandpa and Grandma. Except to my sister's kids who call my mom Nainie. And then when it was MY turn my step daughter informed me that I would be Oma and Oma I am and shall be forevermore!
Excellent! My dad swears mom doesn't make him anything decent to eat unless the grandkids are coming for dinner.
Hey, I'm all over almost all of those, and I'm years (I better be years!) away from being a grandma.
Yay, me! I'm all advanced and ahead of my time over here.
Number 3? Pretty sure that won't ever happen, no matter how long I live.
My parents showed their love to their grandchildren through grandpa's (my dads) homemade chocolate fudge for hot fudge sundaes when the entire family gathered every Sunday evening. You could always count on Grandma baking a BIG batch or two of oatmeal molasses cookies some with raisins and some without to share with all of the grands when the family shared a weekend at the cabin. Grandma and Grandpa's cooking and baking days have come to an end but all those grands (over 44 to date) will have those sweet memories forever.
Whenever the grands come to our house, they always have to eat something. It doesn't matter that they just got up from the table at their house. They also know that whenever they say, "Mema, let's bake a cake" that I'll take them in the kitchen with me and we'll mix up a pound cake from scratch in just a few minutes and I let them sift the flour, crack the eggs, etc., but best of all, one gets the beater and the other one gets the mixing bowl. And, of course, it's all done with lots of love!!
I put on my "jammies" as soon as I get home from work. Anyone stopping by will need to enjoy me in my comfy clothes!
While I am not yet a grandmother (note to children - DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT YET) I put on my jammies whenever I want and sometimes I leave them on all day.
However, I don't know what "good furniture" is. We have dogs. Their furniture is the good furniture.
Here from the Blog Frog. I love this! But please don't tell me I will one day cloth my furniture in plastic! Eww! Thanks for sharing. I will stumble this. I had a guest post (2 of them) that wrote about being a grandparent recently. )