Grilled Grandma: Lissa

How many children do you have?  4 - 2 boys, 2 girls

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? 4 girls - ages 6, 3, 2 & 3 months

Any great grandchildren? nope

What do your grandchildren call you? Nana - when my kids were still really young I started telling them "I get to be the Nana when you have kids." My Nana totally rocked.  :o)

After the initial elation, what was your first concern upon hearing you would soon be a grandmother?  That I was WAY too young.  :o)

How often do you get to see your grandchildren?  Not nearly often enough - every few weeks usually. They live about 1 1/2 hours away which isn't that far, but I'm pretty busy with all kinds of other things.

What is the best thing about being a grandma?  I have so much more patience now. Also I don't feel that pressure for them to be perfect or that people were judging me based on how they behave. Besides kids are ALWAYS better for grandparents than their parents, right?

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? For me it's having enough time to have them. I lead a pretty busy life and I feel guilty that I don't get them as often as they ask!

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud.   I had the 3 month old last weekend & she is trying so hard to roll over. She gets over on her belly but her arm is in the way. She gets so frustrated & mad at her arm you just have to laugh!

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house?  It depends on which one/ ones I have. We love to make cookies or cupcakes, arts & crafts, go to the pool, pick stuff out of the garden, make smores in the fire pit, read books, or just watch movies with a big bowl of popcorn .

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house?  I would say we usually just watch a movie or read.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? We Skype or talk on the phone.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? Good memories of things we have done together. When I look back it's not that things that were purchased that mean something. I want them to remember sitting on the couch wrapped in my arms.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Can I give you two?  Fun & Loving

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent?  I really can't think of anything. I'm so lucky to be so close with my daughters so I've been a part of almost everything, from birth on! I'm one blessed woman.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma?  Time goes even faster than it did with your kids- soak it in, every single minute!

Do you have a website or blog? What is it about? My blog is called Don't Blink... It refers to the fact that one minute you have 4 kids that you are ready to throw from a moving car, and the next you are sobbing at graduation because they grew up so fast.