This past month another of my friends became a grandma and joined the growing group of women who have license to love, pamper, and spoil grandchildren unconditionally. Now I knew for sure I was a grandma when, after a visit from our young grands, I found Cheerios under the coffee table and instead of grumbling that they were left behind for me to pick up, I sat and stared at them, smiling with all the fresh memories of their visit.

Remembering that incident got me to wondering when the moment of true discovery came for others. So I turned to my Facebook friends and posed the unfinished statement. These are some of the responses I got.

You know you’re a grandparent when...

... you’re in a grocery store and the kids want everything they see and you have no problem buying at least half of what they want. (Lynn)

... you consider magic marker drawings on the wall to be great works of art. (Adele)

... your grands think you are old enough to expire and ask, “When you die, Grandma, can I have your red lipstick?” (Cathy)

... you find toys under the furniture. (Rita)

... you refinish a cedar chest to match your living room décor and then use it as a toy box. (Deana)

... you plan two menus—one for the adults and one for the kids. (Dianne)

... you think it’s funny for kids to jump off of furniture acting like Superman. (Sue)

... you spoil them realizing you can give them back to their parents. (Ed)

... you get excited about a phone call from the kids telling you about what they did in the potty. (Pam)

So when was your true moment of discovery? It rarely sinks in immediately. The miracle of just having that grandchild is enough to try to absorb at first. Here’s wishing you many moments of discovery of what makes being a grandma so special.

Copyright © 2010 by Karen Robbins Share