Becoming a Grandma

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Babies – a requirement for becoming a Grandma.

The frustrating thing is that it is completely out of your hands! You never know when or if your children will decide to start a family of their own. I’ve known folks who never did have any grandchildren.

On the other hand, there are folks who have 19 children of there own and begin having grandbabies while their youngest children are still babies themselves! Me? Well, I am blessed to have 17 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

It’s always fun to think up new ways to tell your family that you are having a baby. Some folks just share the news in regular conversation. Below is a video of just one of the ways to break the news that you are about to become a grandma.

Isn’t that fun? So much joy!

Now how do you tell your parents they are going to be grandparents? Below is a short list of ways you can do that. How about:

Make a Baby Announcement card.

They have a whole slew of decorations at craft stores so you can be quite creative.

Stickers such as the one shown to the right are available at Amazon.com as well as at most craft stores like Michaels which is also available online.

You’ll also find flourishes, embellishments, swirls, and cutouts.

Look in the scrapbooking section.

Play a game of Scrabble.

Create a simple note like the one in the pic using the Scrabble tiles which you place inside the box.

Just make sure that your mom is the one to open the box.

Present them with gifts proclaiming their new status as grandparents such as these shirts and mugs .

 Mom Knows She’s Going to Be a Grandma – Now What?

Grandma is going to want to help you get ready. She’ll want to go on a buying spree. I know, I did! That’s all well and good. However, Grandma, you might want to slow down. It’s great to dream and look, but wait until you know what’s needed. Perhaps you can hold a baby shower and give others a chance to help out.

While having babies is a joyous time, it’s also a lot of work. Grandma, let the new mom and dad set the pace. They know what they need and want. They may want to keep to themselves for a bit. If so, let them. Make sure they have what they need (food, diapers, etc) and then give them room. Call now and again to see if they need anything else.

The time will come soon enough when your help will definitely be appreciated as the new parents suffer from lack of sleep. Remember that time? Tempers get short. Now’s the time when a visit from Grandma to care for baby can allow the parents extra time to get some sleep or tackle some tasks that have fallen behind.

This is only the beginning, Grandma. Enjoy this time of having a baby in your life again cause it will go by even faster than when your own children were growing up. You turn around and they’ve grown a couple of inches. They’ve had new responsibilities and exhibit a new level of maturity.  All too soon you’ll be looking at great grandmotherhood. Enjoy your time now.

What stories can you tell of learning you were about to become a Grandma?