On being a Granny

Once again, my topic picks itself for me, this week: my granddaughters, on being a grandmother.

 

There’s a delight that wasn’t there when my kids were growing up, an added dimension, it enriches the depth of being a Mom. [all the more timely, on this Friday after Mother’s Day]

 

And the topic is at hand because, well, my granddaughters are spending the weekend with me! HAPPY GRANNY!!! I’ve long had “honorary” kids (mostly daughters), friends of my own kids. And their kids are, by default, honorary grandkids. But MY own grandkids are only two. Two precious beautiful little girls who stole my heart from the beginning. Violet* is my daughter’s little girl and she is eight, and Rose* is my son’s daughter and she is four. Violet lived with me, she and her mom, for four years, and we’re pretty tight. Rose lives about an hour away, and my heart was torn for a long time that I wasn’t as close to her. And I don’t mean physical distance.

 

But recently, Rose’s Momma has called on me to have Rose for the week-end. Of course I said yes! Of course I jumped at it. And of course, I’m all about having fun and making the most of it. And of course, Violet comes to stay too so double the fun!

 

Now, because Violet and her mom live close enough, I get her off the bus after school while her mom is still at work. Half of her birthday parties have been at my house, and I’ve made and decorated four or five of her birthday cakes. We’ve had all but one Christmas together, and she has stayed with me over spring break and part of her summer vacation. My house is a second home to her.

 

But my connection with Rose has been more tenuous, less bonded. So when her Mommie tells me how excited she is to come see me, my heart thrills!

 

The first time Rose came down was last fall. It was several weeks before her birthday so she was still three. And although she knew me, she had never been away from her Momma, not out of town, for two nights in a row before. In my exuberance to have fun, I pushed too hard. We went to a festival in the park, in Spartanburg, which is about 25 miles from my house. And it was unusually warm, and by unusually warm, I mean hot, for September. I dragged those poor girls through that festival, determined that they would have fun! It wasn’t epic, but it wasn’t a total failure either.

 

Next time they were both here, we stayed closer to home and spent the afternoon at the park, playing on the playground. Much more successful afternoon.

 

This weekend, it’s supposed to rain (per the Weather Channel, remember my obsession with the weather) so I’m planning – subject to change of course – to help them make artist books for their mommies, kind of a Post-Mother’s Day present. I’ve stickers, and all manner of pretties to decorate them with.   I wanna build a blanket fort, and make popcorn, and of course, we have to watch “our” movie, Brave. We watched that together last fall, so it has to be our tradition to watch it together.

 

The first time, I let them make their own mini-pizzas, too. You know, with canned biscuits for crust, and jar-sauce, loaded with cheese and a topping or two. Maybe we can make some slice-n-bakes this weekend.

 

Dress-up is a classic, always a favorite. Was one of my favorites as a little girl. Palying princess, doing hair and nails and make-up. Playing school, or hospital, putting puzzles together, the big floor puzzles. I bought several for Violet when they lived with me, and still have them. I guess they’re Granny puzzles now, for all the grand kiddoes when they come. Rose love them. I also have Old Maid, Go Fish and Crazy Eights card games. (I can manage sitting on the floor for a little while!!!)

 

Of course, I love to read stories. (I do, of course, have stories to write for them. Need to get on that….. ) Violet can help me read now, too. The best part of it, though, is the cuddling while we read. Really, though, the best-best part of the whole weekend, is the cuddling, whether we’re reading or not. That and the giggling. And the hugging.

 

They’re my grandgirls. And they’re coming to see me. Ain’t nothing better’n that.