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Children grow up and later often cherish
in their memories some one kin who was/is very special. Frequently,
it’s grandmother. Now of course there are granddaddies or
grandpappies, even papaws (Appalachian granddads) who also
devotedly care for little grandchildren — big-time! However,
over all the years so many beloved grandmamma (or mamaw) stories
emerge that special attention must be given — no coincidence
that Valentine’s Day is in February — although many
grannies are year-round sweethearts.
In this day and time in America,
it’s not unusual for grandparents to be raising their
grandchildren, for whatever the chilling or sad or wonderful
reasons. These older and usually wiser women (and men) are
parenting far longer than they ever thought this wonderful, serious
business would take — a lifetime.
Let’s focus on some of the things
successful grannies do for and with their grandchildren, be they
living with them or nearby or cross-country from them.
Used to be grandmothers were great cooks.
Huge numbers still are and just knowing this fact, the child that
finds out he/she’s “going to grandmothers’”
conjures up wonderful anticipation of special and delicious foods.
“Over the river and through the woods to…”
pretty well famously says it, although an SUV arrival is more
likely today.
We know that enthusiastic grandmas are
usually in high gear for holiday and most special occasion events!
An example would be the crisp ten dollar bill grandma sent in the
tenth birthday card. However, how would children today answer these
questions about everyday interactions between them and their
grandmas?
Is she (grandma) the one you remember
rocked you to sleep when mommy had to work late?
Is she the one who taught you how to make
grits, cinnamon toast or pizza and really let you do it yourself
even when it made a mess?
Is she the one who let you snuggle against
her the day you were home from school with an awful cold?
Is she the one who showed you how to make
a scrapbook?
Is she the one who gave you a camera and
showed you how to use it?
Is she the one who told you what your dad
or mother was like as a child?
Is she the one who led you and your
siblings on a bike hike on the Pinellas Trail?
Is she the one who made goodies, plus
packed the sun lotion for the beach outing?
Is she the one who picked you up after
school and took you to soccer, to ballet, or home?
Is she the one who will listen to you
about the cute boy or your terrible, whiny complaints about almost
anything? And without getting too angry about it?
Is she the one who never ever forgets your
birthday?
Is she the one who talks your folks into
doing things or getting things you want?
Is she the one that set up a state-funded
college scholarship for you before you were born?
Is she the one who will take you shopping
and eat out at your favorite food place?
Another good question to ask a child is
why does your grandma love you so much?
All such questions for grandmothers to
consider suggest ways that grandchildren may be
“hugged” by us. Grandmothers, grannies-in-waiting and
to-be, might ask themselves the lifelong value of being a
grandmotherly person, even before that darling baby arrives.
If you’re not yet a grandmother or
unlikely to become one, why not help some special child in a
grandmotherly way? That young person need not be in your own family
— just be in your own heart! Even though grandmothering,
positive caring does not require an actual blood relationship, it
is a sure sign to all that your family (whatever the definition)
matters!
© 2007 Rosemary Lee Potter. All
Rights Reserved.
Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D., has been a
teacher since 1960, including 21 years at Safety Harbor Middle
School, and is now a reading teacher at Carwise Middle School, Palm
Harbor. Contact her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by mail in care
of Tropical Breeze, P.O. Box 585, Safety Harbor, FL 34695.
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