Call me Grandma by Konnie Enos

Just a little bit of back story. I am an older mother. By the time my third child came along my husband’s youngest sister was already a grandmother. When I had our youngest child I was about the same age as my father had been when his first grandchild was born. I can remember taking my oldest child to a mother/daughter event at her school and figuring out I was the second oldest mother there. The oldest mother was with her youngest child. Each of the other mothers with their oldest child were younger than I’d been when I’d married their dad let alone had her.

By the time my three youngest were in middle school they were telling me about classmates, “And mom their grandparents are your age.”

It got to be a familiar phrase.

On at least two occasions I’ve had strangers assume I was the grandparent of one of my children. Once I was with my already adult middle child and that assumption was made. I know I gave the guy a scathing look because I really don’t think I look old enough to be the grandparent of an adult. Then again, people still mistake her for a middle schooler, so maybe? I do have visible gray.

Then last year my sister-in-law (my brother’s wife) called me and asked how I felt since I was now a great aunt. Please note the previously mentioned husband’s sister who has been a grandma since BEFORE our third child was born. “I hate to tell you this, but I’ve been a great aunt for years.” I did add that yes her grandchild was the first one on my side of the family, just not my first great niece or nephew. Of which I’d have to think a moment to count them all.

I’ve also got several cousins, all of them younger than I am (one of those by at least eight years) who have mentioned their grandchildren. One of my cousins, who was prolific in her own right, now has a whole passel of grandchildren. Her younger sister only had one child and she also has a grandchild already.

I know the issue is they, like so many other woman, started having their children by their early twenties and their children did the same so by the time they were in the forties they were already grandparents. (My one sister-in-law started as a teenager and so did her daughter so she was even younger.) So the fact that I was pushing thirty when I had my first child and had my other four children while I was in my thirties has always meant I would be an older grandparent.

I want to be a grandma. I’ve talked about it so much over the years to the point of eventually annoying my three daughters. Mind you, my oldest has only been married for a year and the other two aren’t dating. Neither son is dating either but then the youngest is still in high school and I think the oldest is dead set against any of us having anything to say about who he dates so he’s waiting until he moves out.

But really I’ve wanted grandchildren, and great-grandchildren since I was in my twenties. You see way back then my older sister had a baby and went to a family gathering where our mother, and her mother, and Grandma’s father were all present. Count it up, that’s five generations. Ever since I’ve wanted to be in a five generation picture.

Great-Grandpa died when I was twenty-seven. (I got married at twenty-eight.)

Mom died eleven years ago and Grandma five. Dad and his parents and grandparents are all dead now too. It’s not better on my husband’s side of the family.

The only way I’m going to be in a five generation picture is if I’m the great-great grandparent in it.

I don’t want just grandbabies here! Get a move on kids. I ain’t getting any younger.

At this rate we’ll be throwing a bash for my 100^th birthday before I get my picture.

Though I am apparently one step closer to my goal.

I can now officially add Grandma to my titles.

My lovely daughter and her wonderful husband are expecting baby number one in March!

They’re taking baby name suggestions and her being a Harry Potter fan went over well. I may well end up with a grandson named after the Wesley twins. (I am fine with this idea.)

And, no we don’t know the gender yet.

Can you tell I’m grinning?

Smile. Make the day a brighter day.