In search of the grandmother 'hood
The following words and their definitions are easily found in any dictionary:
Motherhood: 1. The state of being a mother. 2. The qualities of a mother. 3. Mothers considered as a group.
Alas, there is no grandmotherhood, though. At least not as a word in the dictionary. I've looked...several times, in several different versions. Not even in the Urban Dictionary.
Let there be no doubt, though, that the concept of grandmotherhood does indeed exist. It's evidenced by the awesome group of grandmothers and others who gather here on Grandma's Briefs. Who gather and comment and support one another on any grandma blog, any grandparent blog, any grandparent site, on Facebook, on Twitter and beyond. And who gather face to face, be it at one another's kitchen tables, in the shared pews of churches, at a favorite dining—or drinking—spot for "grandmas night out." A network equally as strong as brotherhoods, sisterhoods, and other 'hoods deserves to be equally named.
When obnoxious and obscure terms such as bromance, clickjacking, and the ever-so-freakin'-annoying nom nom that makes me throw up a little in my mouth every time I read it make their way into the dictionary, I don't understand why grandmotherhood—grandmothers considered as a group—is absent. It's not obnoxious. It's not obscure. And it doesn't, I daresay, cause anyone to throw up in their mouth even just the eensiest of bits when considered. Grandmotherhood is a true and tangible state that should be recognized, yet isn't.
It's time to change that. I propose we join together to ask where's the 'hood? At least in name. In every other way we know exactly where the 'hood is: It's in our online connections, our networking with like-minded grandmothers. It's evident in the places where our heartstrings are plucked upon hearing the plight—or the joy—of fellow grandparents we've never even met, likely never will. It's unmistakeable in our shared hugs, virtual and otherwise. It's in the stories we tell one another, the photos we share, the genuine concern and care for others who have been there, who are there right alongside us. It's for real, and the lack of a word to define the concept belittles the state we're in, the connection we have.
We are a 'hood. We are the grandmotherhood.
I want us to be recognized.
I want us to be heard.
I want us to have a word.
Photo: stock.xchng
Today's fill-in-the-blank:
I think the word(s) _________ should be struck from the dictionary for good.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Reader Comments (10)
This ranks as one of my top five favorite posts. Yes, Grandmotherhood is long overdue. Please count me in and where's the petition?
I'd like the words cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, autism, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and many, many similar words to be struck from the dictionary in the hope that there was no need for their existence.
Most words don't bother me, but there's one that begins with a 'c' that I detest. I can't use it in a public forum.
Yes! We do deserve our own hood.
I live a sheltered life-- bromance, clickjacking, and the ever-so-freakin'-annoying nom nom--never have heard/seen any of these "words" before.
I'm part of that Hood! Love it! Best gang I ever joined!
As for words to eliminate -- I love Nonnie Kelly's words. I'd like to add War to the list. I know this isn't what you were looking for but being a child of the 60s I keep hoping for Peace........
Wow, I had no idea grandmotherhood was not in the dictionary. That's nuts. It is a word. An important word.
I'm totally with you on the nom nom.
We've eliminated smallpox in our lifetime and are about to eliminate polio. Why not cancer? Grandmotherhood, while I agree with the sentiment, seems a little unwieldy. How about Nanahood?
When you get "grandmotherhood" included in the dictionary does that mean great-grandmothers will be a part of the 'hood?
I'd like to see an end to all the street-slang words that drive me crazy because they're all just really stupid fads for people who have insufficient proper vocabularies.
Great suggestions! I agree with all the suggestions for word removal! I'm also in agreement on the raunchy C word, Nonnie Kelly. I also have issues with GD. I don't say the F word either (unless I poke my eye while applying mascara) but that's another story (and I don't advocate deleting it from the dictionary as there are some times use of it is truly warranted...like mascara-wand pokes).
I'm with you on "nom nom." It needs to be removed from our language.
I will also support your move to get "grandmotherhood" recognized. I would also like to include "grandmothering." I think it is distinct from mothering.
If Rachael Ray can get "EVOO" recognized as a word, we can get "grandmotherhood" in the dictionary. There are a lot more of us.
I love being in the 'hood! It's time we were recognized. You start the petition, and I'll sign it. As for words to eliminate, I work in a junior high where the slang terms are ever-changing. At any given moment I've got one I hate more than others. One of my ongoing peeves is the word "gay" used as a synonym for "stupid."
Agree with you Lisa, grandmotherhood should be in the dictionary. Good to see at least grandmother is in the Collins English Dictionary.
The word that I would like to see be removed is 'cool.' Pet dislike of mine is hearing young children say something is 'cool!'