Grandmothering

Let me say right away that if I ever thought that my daughters (mothers of my grandchildren) were making a big deal out of mothering - I was wrong! This is hard work! Just the lifting and carrying is meant for a young person. My mother-in-law, who delivered my husband at age 43 (surprising his brother 17 and sister 15 - not to mention herself!) used to say that God meant children to be born to young women. She felt Byron was "a consolation to her old age."

I frankly don't remember how I handled our three girls - born three and a half years apart. We didn't have a nanny, just a once-a-week maid who mainly changed the sheets (a luxury I still appreciate). I guess I hauled them all to the grocery store and took the younger ones in all the carpools, ballet lessons and soccer games. I don't have a memory of anything hideous and the girls are all still speaking to me, so I guess we survived it.

We've had the darling and precious (and very smart) three-year-old grandson and his darling and precious eight-week-old sister here for 10 days with lots of visits from our three-and-a-half-year-old darling and precious (and very dressy) granddaughter with her eight-month-old sister. There was lots of wonderful cuddling, confusion and cousinly camaraderie. We loved every minute.

They left on Tuesday and left us with the darling and precious eight-month-old prodigy who is pulling up, can clap on command and can provide a spectacular raspberry when prompted. She is dangerous because she can't be left alone and is anxious and to explore new venues - the dog's bowl, any lint or trash on the floor, pulling out drawers and pulling up on unstable tables and curtains. She is darling and precious, but Grandmother Dearest is tired.

I took darling and precious baby Emma to the library (where she promptly burst into tears and initially devastated Librarians Carla and Miss Kitty until she warmed up) - and the trek up the steps carrying the "bucket" was a true pain in the neck and back. The bucket must weigh 10 pounds without the baby! The thought of loading her up - much less with an older, more opinionated sibling - to go to the grocery store, is daunting. No wonder pizza delivery is so popular with the younger set.

Hats off to all you mothers of babies - Grandmother Dearest salutes you!