The Good, The Bad, The Ugly!
I am a much better Mimz (Grandma) than I was a Mom. That is my true confession.
Don’t get me wrong – I was attentive, caring, engaged, and present for my three. Even as a single Mom I was all those traits; however, I went “on tour” for several years after a devastating, unexpected divorce from my first husband and father of my trio. No need to go into the gory details as those years were placed at the foot of the cross years ago and I’ve been forgiven and set free!
The above photo is the most recent of Hannah, Simon, and me and it was taken in 2019. Life has drastically changed since that time. Our lives are now separated by distance – but only by miles. I stay in touch with my now-adult grands. Hannah just turned 26 and Simon will leave the teens behind in May. They are grown up. And as they say…
Adulting is hard!
It Hit Me
Last weekend, as I sat in our warm truck while Lowell metal detected a playground, I began thinking what exactly did I teach, if anything, to Hannah and Simon in all our years together. We were fully-committed and fully-present grandparents all of both their lives. These two human beings have our complete hearts and devotion – in common English?
We adore them!
Inquiring Minds Want (Need) To Know
So, off went the text. “Will you please provide to me a list of the most important ten things you learned from me? I want to write a blogpost.” In true Hannah style I had her list by the end of the day. Simon needed time. So, I gave him to the end of the week. On Friday I texted him, “Your assignment is due.” His response was heartfelt – “I’ve worked 12 hour days all week, Mimz, please give me more time.”
Grace is always the answer, amen? This afternoon is deadline and I’m hoping to receive his list any moment!
Hannah 
Do It Afraid
Pray without ceasing.
It is never wrong to do right.
Faturdays (cheat day – eat healthy all week).
Hurt people, hurt people.
Always shake your clothes when you take them out of the washer and place in the dryer.
Speak the truth in love.
No responsibility? No opinion.
Always let the natural light in (open the blinds).
You can make anything look cute (even the dumpiest place can be made pretty, “paint is cheap” as her Great Great Grandma Emily used to tell me).
I LOVE her list.
I expected a few of her things but some are definitely a surprise. She listened well and learned much!
Simon (he made deadline!!!)
How to make a good cup of tea.
How to enjoy a book.
How to look at the positive side of things.
How to understand that “all things happen for a reason.”
I remember cold, rainy days with Mimz were the best days.
How to enjoy and appreciate the simple things of life.
How to write one sentence and turn it into a paragraph. (Have we a writer in our future!?)
You made improper grammar become a very big pet peeve of mine.
Mimz can be mean but always fair.
If and when I forget my Social Security number, I can just call Mimz.
I LOVE his list and laughed and laughed because each one addresses a specific time in our past!
To Sum It All Up
These two lists are as different as our two grands are. They sometimes contend to whom is my favorite – but how can a Grandmother have a favorite when they are both so awesome and endearing. So I always say back to them:
Hannah, you’re my favorite grand-daughter.
Simon, you’re my favorite grand-son.
God certainly had a plan, amen? If there are more grandchildren in our future I might have a conundrum on my hands! But, as God already has the future in-hand I’ll trust Him to figure it all out!
How blessed we are!
With Hope & Kindness,
Sus’
Share with me YOUR favorite grandchild memory!
Beautifully written. I cherish being a grandparent. My grandchildren range in age from elementary to high school. I am realizing I want to spend more time making more memories with them. They grow up so very fast.
Laurie, so very, very quickly. I cherish all the summers we had our two. They would come for weeks at a time. Priceless memories. Thanks for reading.
Love, love, LOVE……………………………….
Kathy
I knew you would!!!
Well, Susan, I have 3 grandsons, so I can’t choose a favorite. Each of them is a favorite for different reasons – one is very dependable and responsible; one is sensitive and caring (not that they aren’t all caring, but this one is special); the third is still finding out about his life on this planet and what he wants to do with it (his cat is now his best friend, but that will change). I’m thankful that I now live near them, but I try to keep my opinions to myself unless it’s something really major. Praying for God to guard my tongue!
Amen, for sure!!! “Set a watch upon my lips!!!”
Susan, your grandchildren are fortunate to have you in their lives! What lovely lists. I just became a grandmother three months ago and hope I can make as lasting an impact. Visiting from Anita Ojeda’s site. 🙂
Blessings,
Tammy
O! Tammy, you will – be intentional. It works every time!
You’re the best Mimz!! We are very fortunate to have you. Still to this day, I say “Well Mimi said…” XO
“Be still my heart!” But, of course, you are my heart. To the moon…
My! My! How can l type when tears are pouring out of my eyes ❤️
Did you not love what these two wrote?
What a great question to ask and I may just need to do so 🙂 It is such a privilege to be a Mimi – a blessing. May the Lord be faithful to our families and keep our grands every close to Him!
Jo’ I went out on a limb asking – what if they had said “nothing.” LOL. You know where my heart is and I trusted them to have learned something!!!
Loved this Sus…I’m going to ask my favorite grandson and favorite granddaughter to do this for me! You and I are truly blessed Sus!
We truly are!!!
That is neat that we both wrote about grandparenting this week. I love their lists. I should probably ask my kids this.
With bated breath, amen?
I love everything about this, Susan! (I think I even learned something new from your granddaughter’s list.) I’m not a grandparent and hopefully won’t be one for quite some time, but I’m so glad my girls were able to be close to THEIR grandparents. There’s something about that relationship that is so sweet.
Lois, it is PRICELESS!
Sus, I can’t tell you enough what a treasure it was for me to have read this today. I’m not a grandma yet but I could just feel your message as if I were there. I so loved hearing about what your grands learned from you. What a blessing they are.
Honestly, these 2 stole my heart years ago!!!