Grilled Grandma: Sandy

How many children do you have? I have a super son and a delightful daughter as well as a sweet daughter-in-law. I thought about having another baby but I couldn’t face potty training again!

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? Liam is almost 6 and his little sister Mary will be 3 the day after Thanksgiving.

Any great grandchildren? Not yet, but I am hopeful.

What do your grandchildren call you? Grammy. I like Gran but it is what my kids call my mom so it wasn’t available. I’m too much of a control freak to let the grandkids choose my name. When they first started saying it, it came out “Dammy”, then “Gammy” but now they can both say “Grammy” quite clearly.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? We have dinner together at least twice a week. Living in the same town with them is about the greatest blessing I can imagine.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Cuddling.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? When they are not in the mood to cuddle.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. My daughter Abby has a boyfriend named Kevin and Mary, who is almost 3, is trying to figure out their relationship. One day we were looking at pictures Abby and Mary said, “There’s Abby, Kevin’s cousin.”

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Read books and books and more books. I love books and it promotes cuddling.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Same as at my house – read books.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? I think the best way is to take an interest in their interests. Even when they are little if you show up at the soccer game or remember the name of their best friend at nursery school, it shows them you are paying attention.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? Faith. It is the one thing that can stay with you all your life.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Laughing.

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? That their momma and daddy need extra attention too.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Grandkids are for having fun. Don’t sweat the small stuff like stains on your carpet or marks on your table. Those things are temporary but love is forever.