Sweet friends,
Happy Grandparents’ Day! The idea for this post has been percolating in me for awhile. After spending time this spring with Lucia and then Cadence, I realized both of my grandbabes have taught me so much. About living. About what’s really important in life. As a mommy, I was so caught up in raising my daughters, working several jobs at a time, keeping up our house. Homework, chores, extracurricular activities. Everything about our lives was so measured and calculated. Yet so often beyond our control. Then my daughters grew up and became mommies themselves. Their lives became filled with working, housekeeping and raising babies while I downshifted into the wonderful role of a…
Grandma, Mimi, Gaba
I’ve finally learned to be the kind of mommy (albeit it GRAND-mommy) I wish I’d been able to be with my own baby girls. It seems that as my body has begun to slow down, so have my demands on myself and others. Having fun has taken precedence over having a spotlessly clean house. Enjoying ice cream on Saturdays is more satisfying than attempting to have the same figure I had in my 30s and 40s. I am more interested in making memories than buying and having tangible ‘things’ to fill every flat surface of my house.
I learned a lot from being a mother. And now my granddaughters are teaching me to have a new outlook on life. Here are just a few of their love lessons.
It’s OKAY to…
…leave those scattered kisses and fingerprints about
My first inclination when I see sticky finger prints or kisses on the glass panes of my French doors is to grab the Windex. But my grandbabes have taught me to leave them awhile. As mementos of their all too fleeting visits.
…leave messages behind for those you love
Cadence has been doing this for years. I find drawings and little messages on Post-it notes in my loft, on the guest room nightstand after her visit. Usually pictures of her mommy, Cady and me. Dressed as the royalty we are. I keep one of the first Post-it portraits taped in my wallet for all time. But add new notes in the place where most people carry paper money, knowing my ‘currency’ is treasure greater than gold.
Once upon a time, I would leave messages for those I loved on a mirror in eyeliner or lipstick. But that changed when I found a how-to on Pinterest for making a pretty, framed message board. Now my PC and I leave love notes to one another there.
…wear your crown and jewels (or bunny ears) every day
My Prince C. has given me several lovely pieces of jewelry. Because I love the color green, many of them have emeralds combined with my birthstone, diamonds. And often in the shape of a heart. I keep them in a padded jewelry envelope. Cady, and now Lucia, have compelled me to begin wearing my jewels more often. Rather than saving them for the proverbial special occasion.
Because every day is a special occasion, a present.
…suck your thumb or your paci now and then
We all have those days. And we all have those ways of getting through them. Cady and Lucia have taught me that it’s alright to need a paci or a suck-a-sumb when life gets tough. Whatever keeps you going.
Chances are your teeth were going to be crooked anyway.
…wear fur and glitter any day
Cady and Lucia have taught me that even Mondays are acceptable for wearing one’s pink faux fur cape to go out. And rubber rain boots go with anything. They create interest in what might otherwise be a hum-drum outfit.
Tulle and leopard are that perfect contrast between soft and hard.
…dance whenever you feel like it
To PC’s chagrin, I may have taken this lesson from my grandbabes too much to heart. While my Prince, the son of a Baptist preacher, was never permitted to, I love to dance. My Cady Coo and Plumpies have taught me that it’s more than okay to dance whenever the mood strikes.
For me that can be leaving the gym after a good work out. Bee-bopping around in the kitchen as I fix dinner. Or like at last night’s Oktoberfest, dancing in a circle around PC while he tries to act like he doesn’t know me. All we have to say to Lucia is “dance, dance, dance”. Those immortal lyrics from Justin Timberlake’s hit song “Can’t Stop the Feeling”.
And my youngest grandbabe starts ‘getting jiggy wit it’.
…wear your heart on your sleeve
My grandbabes have taught me that it’s okay to cry. Sometimes all you need is a good cry to make things better.
In this photo, my Cadence was telling me she needs me via Skype. Already at their tender ages, both of my granddaughters are sentimental and sweet. Case in point. Brennyn took Cady to buy a card for her daddy’s birthday. Their decision came down to two choices. When they picked one, Cady was almost in tears. Brennyn asked why she was so sad and Cady said she was worried that she had hurt the other card’s feelings by not picking it.
Everyone has feelings. My Cady Coo is acutely aware of that. Even cards. Even clothes she’s out grown. Toys she no longer plays with. As I get older, I am finding that my emotions are harder to hide. I laugh easier but I cry more these days, too. If only the whole world could remember this important lesson. Everything has feelings.
Keeping My Grandbabes Close
Since becoming a grandmother, I keep at least one car seat in my Altima at all times. It is kind of like having a bit of my grandbabes with me wherever I go. We make time to video chat, if only just long enough to give kisses and say I love you. I am wearing my jewels more often, learning to be more comfortable in my own skin and breaking into dance when the mood strikes. And chances are, if you come for a visit, there will be sticky kisses and little fingerprints on the glass panes of my French doors.
Your Turn
What lessons have your grandbabies taught you? Or if you aren’t to that season in life yet, what are the lessons have you learned from the littles in your world? Please share in a comment below. Or join our link-up with your own blog post.
Then stop by to read some of the heart-warming posts of my other grandma friends.
Last of all, please spend 4 minutes listening to this song by Martina McBride. Please? It has always been one of my very favorite songs for my daughters Brennyn Alexis and Lauren Allegra.
And now for their daughters Cadence Ellie and Lucia Carolina, too.
Hugs and kisses,
Marilyn Lesniak
How I envy the fact you are allowed to post pictures and specific stories about your family.
I have strict rules to follow when it comes to tranparency. I took a lot of liberty in my article just giving generalities. I loves your article. .
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You know, my oldest daughter and her former husband posted pictures of Cady all over everywhere. So I never really thought about not being permitted to share pictures and stories about her. My youngest daughter and her husband are more private and neither one really do much on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter. I should probably ask permission more often of them before posting pictures of Lucia. Thank you for reminding me to do that.
Christie Hawkes
What a beautiful post, Leslie, and such important lessons for us all. Thank you for sharing and for arranging this link-up. Happy Grandparents Day to you! ❤️
sue from sizzlingtowardssixty & beyond
I’m crying Leslie because of your beautiful and touching thoughts about your grandbabies. I feel exactly the same. It has been a lovely idea to have this link up thank you for inviting me to join. I was the same as you, busy working and keeping the family going but not really enjoying time with my children. I’m making up form that now with my darling Ethan.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, Sue!! Thank you, dear. I know you love your babe as much as I love mine. Much of the time my girls were young I was either a single mom or in a relationship that had me feeling like a single mom. I was run raggedy and just did the best I could. I don’t think my girls are resentful but they had to go to work to help out in high school. And that made them stronger. It necessitated them getting organized and staying on top of school because their study time was impacted by the hours they worked. Both graduated with honors. But now, looking back, I wish I had spent less time vacuuming and more time snuggling.
Debs
What a truly lovely post – and I’ve found myself nodding in agreement to every single one of the items on your list! I love the video clip you chose of JT – it is such a happy song and I love it – I can often be found singing along to it in the car and my little grandson loves it when I put it on, pick him up and bop around the lounge. Such giggles!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, Debs, what a sweet message. I am glad you and your grandson have those special memories dancing and giggling together. Grandbabes are the best and I just found out my Lucia is coming again for a visit in two weeks. Be still my heart.
amy
Oh my, what a beautiful post! I could relate to so much. Thanks so much for sharing and linking up with me!