Grilled Grandma: Carol

How many children do you have? 2 sons
 
How many grandchildren? What are their ages? 2 grandchildren. My grandson turned five on Halloween. My granddaughter turned five Thanksgiving week.
 
Any great grandchildren? No
 
What do your grandchildren call you? Grandma

Beyond the initial elation, what most concerned you upon hearing you'd soon be a grandma? People would think I was old.
 
How often do you get to see your grandchildren? About once a month for our local son and his family. 3-4 times a year for our distant son and his family.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? I don’t have to do all the hard stuff – clothes, schools, food, regular sleep schedule, Healthy, regular food schedule, consistent discipline. I get to do all the fun stuff – play, explore, enjoy the world around us, loosening the rules a bit.
 
What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? I would like to spend more time with my grandchildren, but we and they have a life.
 
Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. The two cousins running hand trucks in a circuit around our house.
 
What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Read to them, walk down to the creek.
 
What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Walk around their neighborhood.
 
How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? I write two books a year for them, one for their birthday and one for Christmas. Throughout the year, we take photos to put in the books.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? Their parents are already doing it. That they are loved.
 
What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Warmth.

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? Not everybody’s expectations for grandparents are the same.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Respect your children as parents, even though you have a lot more experience. Understand that they are getting current advice from peers and the Internet while your advice may be out-of-date.

Visit Carol, aka Granny-Guru, on her website, www.newgrandmas.com.