Being a Grandmother Is Pure Joy!
I am a grandmother to my daughter’s child, who is nine-and-a-half months old. Being a grandmother is pure joy! I see the miracle of life unfolding in my granddaughter’s development. I don’t have the same worries or lack of time that I had during my own children’s young years. At least some of the guilt, confusion, isolation, exhaustion, and fear I experienced as a parent is behind me.
I am seventy years old, and I sometimes struggle to be physically agile as my granddaughter’s ally in play and other activities. So I work out [exercise] to be fit for the job!
It is hard to hold back on [resist] expressing my opinions. I have led babies’ workshops and a babies’ class in RC, and I often think that I know what is right and what my daughter and her partner should do.
I am learning how to support them without taking over [dominating]. Even where I disagree, I am showing my respect and support for them. I give them “time off” to be together. I also bring a full family meal each week for us all to eat together as well as extra portions of foods I have cooked at home. I often do laundry, housecleaning, and dishes when I am at their house. I have come along on medical appointments and errands. Sometimes I stay overnight, to be of help. Sometimes I arrive on short notice to help for several days at a time. I have tried to organize my entire family to support them.
I meet with other grandparents in an online RC “special time” class and with friends who are grandparents. We share photos, successes, and stories.
I can discharge! I keep moving through the daily ups and downs. I have a big perspective and can see where to put my attention as a source of support as well as how to recover from my hurts to be my true self.
USA
Reprinted from the e-mail discussion list for RC Community members
(Present Time 206, January 2022)