One of the blessings of getting older is becoming a grandparent — whether it’s your biological grandchild or an adopted youngster in the neighborhood. I was so excited when my older granddaughter got engaged during the first quarter of the Michigan vs Ohio State game in Ann Arbor last Thanksgiving. You may remember me writing about the time I spotlighted my “Hannah’s Grandma Luvs the Michigan Band” sign as her band buses flew by us on Rt. 23 on their way to Columbus. You can find the fun story here if you haven’t read it yet.
I loved it when my granddaughters were little and they spent a week with us every summer breaking all their parents’ rules – watching television, eating ice cream sandwiches and getting dressed whenever we wanted. Ha! They called me their “Craft Grandma” back then because we spent hours “making messes.”
Lately, I’ve been thinking about my grandparents and how much I loved them. I wonder if they had as much fun breaking my parents’ rules as we did? You see, one of my fondest memories was going fishing with my grandmother on Edinboro Lake in Pennsylvania when I was eight years old – and neither one of us knew how to swim!
NaNa didn’t look much like a fisherman either in her 1950’s style dress with big white pearls and perfectly curled hair, but she loved the challenge of catching our dinner. We were quite a parade on our way to the boat — Pop Pop with fishing poles and a can of worms, Nana with a picnic tin and me with two green cushions for life preservers. As Na Na rowed away from the dock, I could hear Pop Pop yell, “Don’t forget the toolbox under the front seat.”
It didn’t take long to see our red and white bobbins dipping below the dancing waterline. The only problem was neither NaNa nor I wanted to touch the long, green-looking perch as they came flailing over the side of our boat. So after awhile, NaNa gave in, “Fetch me the pair of pliers out of that toolbox.” She squeezed the guts right out of our prize perch before she decided to finally cut each of our lines, releasing the mangled fish into the bottom of the boat. Since Pop Pop had already baited all the hooks in the Maxwell coffee can, all we had to do was tie the worms on our fishing lines after that. We had a great day!
Emilie A. Zischkau (NaNa): March 20, 1897 - February 7, 1991
As the First Things First newsletter says, grandparents are really important to a child’s development. They can act as role models, caregivers, advisers, playmates and emotional support. “Grandparents” can be neighbors, aunts and uncles, church members. I’m just praying that grandparents who are goofy and break the rules don’t turn out to be terrible influences on their grandchildren. So far, so good…
It’ll Be OK.
Gabby, Hannah, Misty, Mindy and me
“When a grandparent enters the door, discipline flies out the window.” ~ Ogden Nash
PLEASE SHARE: What was your favorite thing to do with your grandparents? Or what is your favorite thing to do with your grandchildren?
Jan, what a grand story. You always capture my attention when I read your stories. I had the best grandparents, I was totally spoiled because I was the first. I lost my grandfather when I was 20. I had my grandmother until she was almost 100 years young. She got to see my children and help raise them with all the love that she gave me. She was in such good health, could still drive at 98. There are so many fun things that I loved, but the most cherished one is, just laying on the bed with her like two silly girls, laughing and joking and hearing all about her life in the olden days. I was her caretaker and helped her until her last day. She passed 2 weeks before turning a century old. She outlived both of her boys, all her friends, and was so ready to go home...if you know what I mean. Usually we did just lay around and giggle, oh the tales she would tell. Her mind was sharp as a tack, and boy was she hip! There isn't anything or any topic we wouldn't speak about. I will forever remember her love for me, a tiny petite lady with blue eyes named Alamae...I called her Mumpsey.
The one thing I remember about my grandparents was that they would always make my brother, me and all our cousins laugh and they loved a party. My one grandpa (mom's dad) would always goof around which made my nan roll her eyes. They all treated us equally, no favourites. Miss those good times.
Yes my mom and dad always break the rules with my son. He gets away with murder.. Even now. 🤣