Introducing Grilled Grandma Vonda
What is a Grilled Grandma? A Grilled Grandma is a grandma whom I've grilled with some grandma-related questions, and she's graciously responded with answers and photos. Here is Grilled Grandma Vonda:
How many children do you have? I have 5 kids.
How many grandchildren? What are their ages? I have 11 grandkids, ages 14, 12, 11, 8, 6, 5, 4, 4, 2, 2 & one lives in Heaven.
Any great grandchildren? Not yet.
What do your grandchildren call you? Just grama, I'm the pajama grama cause I get everyone their favorite cartoon pj's for Christmas.
How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Not enough! 4 about weekly, 6 about 2-3 times a year.
Beyond the initial elation, what most concerned you upon hearing you'd soon be a grandma? That I wouldn't get to see them often enough.
What is the best thing about being a grandma? I don't have to say no! (It bugs their parents but I love it!)
What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Keeping my mouth shut when I'd really like to 'express' my opinion.
Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. When the 5 year old was teaching me how to put lipstick on & she said I could put 1 color on top lip & a different one on the bottom lip.
What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? To see how they love it when I have a new coloring book & new box of crayons & we color together.
What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Have them show me stuff they are doing.
How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? Computer.
What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? I hope they will grow up being non judgemental & have good self esteem.
What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Acceptance.
What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? I think I would try harder to be involved in their lives through letters, internet and traveling.
What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Just smile at the parents when you wish you could scream at them. :)
Do you have a website or blog? I just started one called Innocent & Mischievous: Grandma Style.
This grilling will now be permanently placed in the Grilled Grandmas Hall of Fame—AKA the Grilled Grandma Archives—under, fittingly, Grilled Grandma: Vonda.
Dear Readers: If you'd like to nominate a grandma for grilling—yourself or any other grandma—please e-mail me her first name and e-mail address and I'll take care of the rest. Thank you!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Reader Comments (6)
Good Morning and welcome to Grilled Grandmas. 11 grandkids? I am so jealous! I checked out your new blog. You are going to have so much fun blogging about them and they are going to love reading what you write. You have a great attitude, we should all stay kids at heart.
Enjoy your day in the spotlight.
Nice to meet you pajama Grama Vanda.
I have no idea how you were able to gather your entire beautiful family together, but that's a gorgeous picture! Thanks for sharing.
Your advice to new Grandmas is excellent. Some of us are still learning.
I checked out your new blog. How wonderful! It's refreshing to see a Grandma talking about bloopers.
Have an awesome day.
Hi Vonda and welcome to Grilled Grandmas. Your grandkids are gorgeous! How proud you must be. Enjoy your special day!
Terri
Hey, Vonda! What a big happy family you have. I loved seeing all the pictures. And, at least, you have some of them close enough to visit with them frequently.
Keep up the good work as Gramma and enjoy your day showing them off to all the world now that you are a Grilled Grandma.
Nice to meet you! I love pajamas myself...my kids get me PJs every Christmas, lol. You have a beautiful bunch of grandbabies. I only have two so far.
I love your advice about smiling at your kids when you feel like screaming at them. Sometimes I have such a difficult time biting my tongue on issues related to the grandbabies. Maybe if I try smiling instead it will make it easier.
Congrats on being a Grilled Grandma!
Anna
I love that the 5 year old was teaching you how to put on lipstick. You have a beautiful family. Your new blog looks promising. Those are some gorgeous granddaughters you have.