Grandmothers and me

Okay, I'm a grandmother. I guess I might as well admit it since the second one is due to arrive any moment.

The first to arrive was Elliot. She is the first of the third generation of our immediate family. Sounds simple, but she managed to drag out her entrance into the world into many hours. Eight months old now, she is a charmer, always ready with a smile and loving the attention.

But Ethan is on the way. Things are going to change. Now she will have to share the center of attention, maybe even losing it all together briefly, while everyone is interested in the newborn.

The cousins will soon learn to get along though, I'm sure of that. Especially at grandma's house. Everyone will get spoiled evenly!

Let's get one thing straight though. I may be a grandmother, but I am not grandmotherly! That brings a whole different image to mind.

Admit it. What do you think of when you think of that word. Of course, the first thing you recall are your own grandmothers.

But the word "grandmotherly" invokes all kinds of images. Usually of plumpish, gray-haired, bespectacled women (two out of three's not bad and you'd better guess the right two!) wearing dresses below their knees, an apron, and sensible shoes. Blue jeans usually were not a major component of our grandmothers' wardrobe.

I do hope my grandchildren will like coming to my house as much as I enjoyed going to my grandmothers' houses. I'm not much of a baker, but I will try to always have some cookies on hand It will be fun teaching you to play "hide the thimble." I'm not much of a seamstress either, so I'll have to get a thimble by the time the kids are old enough for that.

Grandpa is waiting in the garage for a little boy to play with. After two daughters who had no interest in automotive things, except to make sure they had one to drive, he's due. Of course, Elliot could turn out to be the one who's fascinated by motors and making them run. We'll have to wait and see.

I've had several people ask me what I want to be called. "Grandma" is just fine with me. I'm not going to make up some cutesy name and insist the kids call me that. If they come up with something down the road, that will be different (not Sharon!).

I'd better go now and check in on Allison and see if Ethan has decided he wants his birthday to be on Christmas.