The Grandma I Always Wanted to Be

I always imagined myself as the fun mother. I thought I would be the mother in the neighborhood that the other kids would flock to. I would spend my days baking cookies and mixing kool-aid for my sons and their friends. I never turned into that mother although I did have bursts of brilliance : ) When I became a grandmother I thought now is my chance. I turned out to be a law-giver grandma and I am disappointed that once again I don't get to be the fun one.


When you homeschool your grandchildren, you of necessity are the teacher who corrects, points out their errors, grades their tests, makes them study fact cards and puts them to the fire by giving them tests and assigning writing projects. We do have fun but this is still not the ideal of a grandmother I have in my head.




When Theodore was just turning two, his mother Danylle was occupied with baby Dean and his father was playing organ at a different church. I happily sat with them and once again I became the law-giver grandma who taught Theodore (as I had Marina previously) to sit quietly, to not be a distraction to other worshippers and to participate as much as his age allowed. Soon Dean was of the age to be thoroughly instructed in church etiquette and since another child is coming in January, Dean will probably be sitting next to Grandma.



But today was a different day. We went to the park and they played their hearts out. I sat and knitted a top for my soon to be born great niece Zoe while they ran, climbed, slid and played on the swings. When they were worn out from the playground equipment, we walked by the lake and observed the ducks and geese. We finished our morning with baking chocolate chip cookies. Each helped with some of the ingredients and they were thrilled. After we had lunch, I took them home with a supply of cookies and at least one memory of Grandma -- the fun one.

I finally have a day as the Grandma I always wanted to be. I am happy!