Mothers Evolve into Grandmothers

The mother of my children cut her motherhood molars by devoting herself to five children and loving it; most of the time. Were there bad experiences, of course? Were there the proverbial, “wait until your father gets home,” of course? However, watching the way her daughters now raise their children, I’d say she had a positive influence on our offspring.

I believe the reason for her successful reign is the word love, which is more complex than most other four-letter words. To her, the children she bore were gifts from God for her to love, which meant to nurture and treasure. That she did.

When our children were young, my job required I travel, and two or three nights of most weeks she became both mother and father. During my absence, she helped filled the solitude by reading to them. She read about princes and princesses, horses that flew, and frogs that talked. In addition, a little engine that thought he could became a fixture.

They played board games, card games, and had slumber parties, which ended when all six crashed in one bed. Above and beyond the fun, though, they learned about each other outside their normal roles. Moreover, the process prepared them to know they could lean on each other when life dealt unforeseen and undeserved blows. It also prepared Mother for her future role as grandmother.

Now, as grandma, it's her opportunity to kindle the interest of another generation.  They, too, must meet princes and princesses, horses and frogs with extraordinary talents, and a little engine that still thinks he can.

Equally important, a grandmother can relate to her children as adults. When they were young, the knowledge she gained from putting forth the effort to learn about them broadened their relationship. Now, she can advise in ways they understand. She remembers how she encouraged them when they learned there were no knights in shining armor; when they learned that pumpkins don't become chariots. When they understood that horses can’t fly and frogs only croak.

Thus, in the form of grandmother, God provides a pillow to soften the blow when someone in the lives of their grandchildren falls off a white stallion.