Raising grandchildren for an unemployed widowed senior female is one of the hardest things I have every had to do. At this time in my life I should be sleeping in, eating a bowl of cereal for supper, packing a pack and just going! Instead I am getting up at 6AM, cooking breakfast, packing lunches, ironing clothes, attending peewee football games. I have become my Mother! Struggling to keep the utilities on, while buying uniforms for basketball, making sure the children have "stylish" clothes and shoes to wear "under armor, nike, " saving every penny to send them to summer camp. Homework is the biggest nightmare, having to learn math all over again, it's called COMMON CORE MATH,, where 2 + 2 DOES NOT = 4 anymore (I actually did ask the teacher if I could sit in on some classes)!! And, o yeah, diagramming a sentence, what's up with that!!!! How/when did life get so dang hard!!!! But on the flip side........
Watching this little ones while they play, laugh, sleep, even talk to their friends, is amazing. Heck my 11 year old granddaughter is my fashion advisor. Learning everything all over again, the latest music treads (that's a mind blower), teaching them to cook (something has been lost somewhere down the line) respect, making beds, washing dishes, whew! Hugs at night, smoothing the hurt when they get bullied at school, kissing booboo's. Teenage hormones raging, boy/girlfriends, facts of life (changed a lot since I raised my kids). Watching the excitement on his little face when he hits a homerun.
Want to know how I do it? When I FINALLY go to bed at night, after reading their favorite bedtime story to them, those tiny arms go around my neck, and their sleepy little voice say "I love you Nana" I tuck them in with tears in my eyes, and thank God for giving me another chance at LIFE and LEARNING, to hopefully make a difference in their little lives. Please remember me and my journey when you pack your bags for a weekend get-a-way, when you fly to London for that annual vacation, I'll be the grandmother cheering on the kids when he makes that winning touchdown for the team, and getting that hug at night. PRICELESS
