Granna and grandson #4!
What does it mean to be a grandmother?
If you look it up in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary it reads:
grand·moth·er
noun \ˈgran(d)-ˌmə-thər\
: the mother of your father or mother
But is that all it means? I think NOT!
For me being a Granna (that is what I go by!) is so much more then being the mother of the mother.
We were at the hospital when our first grandson was born. We could see the door to the room but not hear anything. We were outside another doorway and not permitted any closer. At one point they had a bit of an emergency. All we could see were more hospital personnel pouring into the room. No word to the family waiting anxiously outside the hall if all was okay or not. It took them 20-30 minutes to tell us baby had arrived and both were doing good. My tears turned joyful at that point!
Seeing him for the first time was pure JOY! I was a GRANNA!
Fast-forward a few years and we are at the hospital again for grandson #2. I was actually in the room this time. When our daughter started having breathing problems the head nurse yelled “get the mother out of here!”. I was ushered down a hallway a lot farther from this grandson then the last. I waited even longer this time and I was alone. Grandpa was at home with our first grandson. So, here I was in a hospital waiting room in the middle of the night all alone, worried that my daughter and grandson might not make it. It was probably an hour before I saw our son-in-law and found out all was well. More tears!
Holding grandson #2 was as AMAZING as the first time! I was getting good at this GRANNA thing!
Grandson #3 was born in his parents bedroom in the wee hours of the morning (on purpose – home-birth). We got the call late into the night that if we wanted to be there for the birth we better get over there. We did! It was the most peaceful experience I had ever been a part of. At least as births go. It was the first time our daughter had peace giving birth. Praise music was playing softly when we arrived. The big brothers were still sleeping. The midwife was calm and very competent. It was just a great experience. She had pain which is to be expected when you are pushing another human out of your body. But over all it was peaceful. He arrived in a pool of water. We didn’t know what he was until birth. To say I was disappointed it was another boy would be the truth for a split second. Then I laid eyes on my sweet #3 and my heart was his. And it pretty much has been ever since. He and I have a bond that I didn’t have with the other brothers. Not the same anyway.
Holding grandson #3 was pure BLISS! Bring on the boys! This GRANNA can handle it!
Two years later we are in the bedroom again waiting on grandbaby #4. Not sure what this one is either. High hopes for a girl! The whole atmosphere was peaceful again. Big brothers are sleeping. #3 is walking around wondering what is going on. He kisses mommy in between contractions. Such a sweet baby, that one! Praise music is blasting throughout the house. Our daughter is in the pool when we arrive. She hasn’t started pushing, yet. She is hurting. To be expected. She is hurting a lot. I’m not gonna lie, this momma was crying watching her baby in so much pain. It was a very emotional time. I did a lot of praying as I watched her get closer to pushing. Through it all her amazing husband was right there with her. Soothing her. Caressing her. Loving her. It was wonderful to be a part of it again. Then baby #4 arrived and HE was perfect. There is nothing like seeing your grandbaby immediately after birth.
Swaddling grandson #4 for the first time MELTED my heart. I ❤ being a GRANNA!
So with the definition of being a grandmother in my mind, I say, HOGWASH! That is not a definition.
My definition is this:
Grandmother: someone who possesses a warm heart, open arms; more love than she can express; more joy then she can contain; grateful to be called grandmother; worrier; crier; prayer warrior; baby holder; lover of her family
It is not easy being the grandmother some times. We want to tell our children how to raise those little people they give birth to. After all we already did and they turned out pretty good…right??!??! But it is not our place. We had our chance. Now they get to make the same mistakes……I mean try to raise God following, fun-loving, crazy, happy babies!
We all have to live and learn.
The circle of life.
Our 5th GRANDSON is due in about 2 weeks. I know without a doubt I am equipped to love another boy as much as I love the first 4! God is so good to me. I am truly blessed! And I have another daughter that hasn’t even started having babies, yet! Bring ’em on!
So you go be a good grandmother and make some cookies for those sweet babies. Just don’t tell their momma!
Live on,
Sabrina
treasurebeyondmeasure 