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 100th 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.
