Grilled Grandma: Janie

How many children do you have? I have 3, two sons and one daughter.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? I have 5 grandchildren, ages 7, 5, 2, 18 months, and 6 months.

Any great grandchildren? Not yet!

What do your grandchildren call you? Grandma Jane

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? I was in my 50's by then, so I was ready to be a grandma. My one concern was the realization that my generation had become the old folks. How did that happen?

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Not nearly as often as I'd like! 4 of them live on the east coast, thousands of miles away. We see them only twice a year, usually for a week each time. My 18 month old granddaughter lives 150 miles away, which is much more manageable. I get to see that little darling at least once a month.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? The hugs and kisses and fun playtimes that we have when we're together are the best. I love seeing the children grow, change, and learn, and I love any opportunity I have to teach them something.  I also love seeing that my kids have grown up to be loving parents, I hope passing on some of the things I taught them to their children.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? I have been the caretaker for the grandchildren when new ones come along in their family. I was also the babysitter when my son and his wife went on vacation for a week. In both cases, I was delighted to be trusted with those precious little lives, but also worried about taking good care of them. With my own children, I didn't worry as much.  Caring for young children is also a bit more taxing than it used to be. Age matters more than I like to admit!

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. My 18 month old granddaughter recently began coughing and hacking violently whenever she saw a cat. We finally realized that she was imitating the "spitting up a hair ball" sound!

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? They are all city kids and I live in the country, so I love taking them out to see the horses, cows, chickens, peacocks, etc. I love baking cookies or cupcakes with them, and going out for short hikes to explore and show them interesting parts of the natural world they haven't seem before.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? In the city, we do city things, such as a museum, the zoo, or various shows. Sometimes we go to the beach or play in the park. We fly kites or styrofoam airplanes. We bake goodies. We do crafts. I try to recall things I enjoyed as a child so that they might have new things to experience.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? I write letters. Sometimes we Skype. Phone calls are always good.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? I hope I can share my love of and appreciation for nature with them. I hope I can share my love of reading and writing.

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

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? Since I had been anticipating grandmotherhood for years before I actually became a grandma, I had plenty of time to get ready. Still, I had forgotten how precious a little bundle of baby is. Maybe I should have held babies more after mine were grown, so I wouldn't have felt that twinge of insecurity when I first held a grandchild.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? My advice is the same as I would give to a new parent. Enjoy those little ones. They grow up so fast! Give them lots of hugs, kisses, and "I love you's", because a child can never have too much love.

Do not miss Janie's blog, Janie and Steve, Utah Trails: Exploring paths less traveled. It's a must-see for those with wanderlust, as well as those who just enjoy awesome photos and equally awesome stories to go with.

Grilled Grandma: Mary

How many children do you have? Two daughters, age 43 and 45.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? Two step grandsons, 22 and 18 and one granddaughter, 8. The boys were 6 and 8 when their father and my daughter got together.

Any great grandchildren? no

What do your grandchildren call you? The granddaughter calls me Grama or Grama Mary. The boys call me Mary

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? My daughter's health.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? I see the grandgirl quite often; her parents live in a city an hour's drive away. The boys are both in a city three hours away, the younger one at university, the older one, having finished a technical course, is now working.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? The lack of responsibility for the big things. When the girl child announce, at age six, that she did not believe in God but she did believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny because they brought her things, I was very pleased to think that this value set was her parents' responsibility. On a much lighter note, I don't fuss if she doesn't drink her milk.
I've done a good bit of child care, both for the boys until their mid teens and for the girl child since she started daycare at 8 months. I've gone with their parents to conferences, one in Barcelona in 2005, as caregiver, and have served as backup to the daycare/school arrangement in illness. I figure I know them quite well, especially Little Stuff, which is our name for the youngest. Fun to look after them and that 'phew' feeling when their parents take them back.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Getting in to the city in a snow storm when Little Stuff was too sick for daycare and her mother had a lecture to give that she couldn't cut.
Keeping a six-year-old happy for a rainy week in July. Each morning she would press her little nose to the window and say 'Guess we're not going to the beach today, Grama.'
Keeping my mouth closed when her mother doesn't do things my way.
Getting the printer to work when eldest boy had a project due.
Not commenting on the second boy's evil delight in wearing mismatched socks and a stocking cap over uncombed hair.
Keeping my mouth closed when their father gives in to them.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. The girl child has a vivid imagination: she makes up stories and games. The latest is Little Stuff the Duchess, who pours tea and orders around her maidservant (who is me). I smoke, but only outside. Little Stuff was being the Duchess out on our screened porch, glared at me and said, haughtily, 'No blowing smoke out of the nose!"

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Crafts. The latest is an eight block quilt. They all, over the years, have foraged off into the bush (our home is right out in the country) and picked flowers for me. It's grand fun to see what they find and bring back. So far, no poison ivy, thank goodness.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Walk down to the park by the river and feed the ducks, squirrels, etc and take photos of the kids and their friends.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? The boys are grown and have their own lives - but they love to fish and that is a big bond with their grandfather who takes them out on his boat. Ditto Little Stuff, who never saw a perch she couldn't catch, release and catch again. The poor fish end up with multiple piercings along the mouth.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? A love of reading. A love of words. I used to pass books to the boys, and am collecting my favourite children's books a few years ahead of Little Stuff's reading ability so that she - like her brothers - can discover them on my shelves for herself.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Security.

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? Don't sweat the small stuff.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Get to know the kid as soon as you can. And don't give his/her parents advice unless you are asked for it. Even then, keep it short.

Want more Mary (and how could you not?)? Stop by and visit her any time on her blog: Them's My Sentiments.

Grilled Grandma: Patti

How many children do you have? I have three children. Two boys and a girl.

How many grandchildren? I have three grandchildren. Two boys and a girl.

What are their ages? My children are all in their late twenties; my grandchildren are 1, almost 2, and almost 3.

Any great grandchildren? Heavens no. LOL.

What do your grandchildren call you? Grammi (with an i); One of my grandmothers was Grammy, and I wanted to be like her, but just a little different, and since Patti ends with an "i," I chose Grammi with an "i." They started called my husband "Papa John" at his request, but then he changed it to "Grandpa." I told him he was allowed only one name change with this grandparenting thing.

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? A safe pregnancy. My daughter had placenta previa and placenta vasa, so there were lots of prayers during her pregnancy.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Two of them I see about four times a year; one of them I see about every two weeks — more in the summer.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Watching how my own children are enjoying being parents so much.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Being concerned with their illnesses and safety.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. I have taped stories on YouTube called "Stories by Grammi." My daughter said that she was reading one of the books I had taped to her 2 year old. When my daughter finished reading one of the books, he boldly declared, "By Grammi" because that is what I said on the book on YouTube.

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Take them swimming in their little Walmart pools.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Reading to them, and napping with them! I get tired!

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? FACETIME; telephone; send cards, especially Mickey Mouse postcards.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? That Jesus loves them and has a plan for their lives.

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

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? I am still new at this since they are young. But, I have learned to keep my mouth shut sometimes, but it is SO HARD!

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Give your own kids their space, but let them know you are always there if they need you, and always keep praying for them and their parents.

Do you have a website or blog? Yes both; My blog is bibshoppe.blogspot.com; You can get to my blog from my website also, www.bibshoppe.com. My friend and I sell baby bibs, baby blankets, custom baby blankets (monogrammed), adult bibs, adult towel bibs, toddler dress bibs, burp cloths, oven door dresses, and more. We started the company by making adult bibs first and then progressed. We do craft fairs in the fall, and sell online during the year.

Another tidbit of information: I work; I am a high school librarian, and our online business started as a little side-line when we were empty-nesters so we wouldn't be bored.

Grilled Grandma: Robin

How many children do you have? Four kids - the three 'big kids' (2 daughters and a son) are through with college and 'on their own' but then our wonderful 'caboose', Jacob, is 17 and still in the nest.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? Two grandbaby girls - Em is 4 and Maddie almost 2. They are beautiful, of course, just like their Mommy

Any great grandchildren? None yet!

What do your grandchildren call you? Well, it's supposed to be Grammy but the youngest has pretty much made up her mind I am called Gammy instead!

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? Even back then (4 years ago) we lived 17 hrs away so, it was 'oh no, this grandbaby is going to be so far away'! It's still very hard.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? 2 or 3 times a year :o/

What is the best thing about being a grandma? I love 'the love' - kiddos have such an unreserved free love and it's so fun to be cuddled up to and doted on like I am somebody special!

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Probably remembering my place ... I am not their mom and need to respect my daughter in her role.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. We're a church going family and love to sing ... it finally connected with the youngest and now she just belts our her songs - for ex. "Oh how I love Jesus" and she will carry out the OH ..... like nobody's business! The oldest can twirl an excellent twirl for her dancing moments - and make me lol! (love Skype!)

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Bake and cook! Made them (and both daughters) reversible aprons last January for us to use during our kitchen times.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Walks in the park or any play outdoor time - we love to pick wildflowers for a bouquet on the mantle. (But I also love tea parties!! and have always loved reading with mine and now these little ones! Yay)

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? We talk on the phone (have magic jack) and also do Skype!

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? The Christian heritage of my own parents and grandparents - love and service to others.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Fun!

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? To take more pictures!

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Give advice when asked for it otherwise, keep quiet!

Visit Robin on her blog, Robin's Road, "...reflections on abundance."

Grilled Grandma: Alice

How many children do you have? I have four, one boy and three girls.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? Four and another on the way. Two boys and two girls. Eight, six, four, one and one half.

What do your grandchildren call you? G-Maw

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother? That my daughter and the baby would be healthy throughout her pregnancy.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Regularly one set lives nearby and the other set approximately forty five minutes away.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? That I never knew how much love my heart could hold til I heard my first G-Maw.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? I can't fit them all on my lap at one time.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. When my oldest grandson described how he won his ribbon for the wheelbarrow race on field day at school last week.

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Since I'm a crafter they all want to do arts and crafts for part of their visit. Then we make cookies.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? To see all the things they have done and are waiting anxiously to show me.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? We talk on the phone.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? The value of being loved just being themselves.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Kind.

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? How much my heart would break when they got their first spanking in front of me.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Love them unconditionally and listen to them. Their foundation is built around those close to them. We are a part of shaping them into the adults they will become.

Alice and her musings can be found on her blog, Just This... Alice.