It has finally happened. I joined the Tribe of Grand Parents a couple of days ago and a new brand new way of being and seeing the world opened up to me. I know, everyone says the same thing about this. But babies are so wonderful.
The combination of having some idea of what to expect from having had a child and knowing from experience that they are on their journey is an experience I look forward to repeating. This time I can truly enjoy it. I do not have the primary responsibility of keeping him alive. My job is to support his parents who will be doing the real work.
Dont get me wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed parenting. It’s just so nice to know I can relax into the experience this time by extension, enjoy the dynamics of his relationship with his parents, and see both the experience and myself through a totally different light.
My friends ask me what will I be called? In the new-fangled family of which I am a part. I will simply be Grand Mommy. He has a Nana and a Grand Mommy B. I will be more than content with an open and joyful relationship over time.
While I say it does not matter “what” he calls me, I don’t think I would fancy being called Patricia. There was a kind of hierarchy in my family of grandmothers wherein my Mother was called Mom by all the grandchildren. The great-grandmother was called Big Mama and the children called their respective mothers Moms, Mama or Mommy. Somehow when were all together, we knew who was being spoken to.
In my world the 3 grandmothers will work through this. I am certain we too will all learn our names and know when we are being spoken to.
What are you called?
Carol Covin says
I love the name Grand Mommy! It’s cute and descriptive. After a friend dubbed me Glam-ma and I saw the disappointed looks on my son’s and daughter-in-law’s faces, I became Grandma.
Patricia A Patton says
Hi Carol. Thank you for sharing. I need to run over to your site to see what is happening. Grandparenting has prompted me to think about a new site. Don’t you love it!