Practicing being a granny

When we were young parents, we thought we knew everything. How to breast feed, how to hold and burp the baby. And all the accoutrements - diapers that change color to show a pee/poop? Wow!

Add 30+ years and things have changed - or have they? Or are we just out of practice?

Yesterday, Granny Janet had one-month old Liam for a few hours and I found her resting on the couch at home, the little munchkin snoozing in her arms. But that didn't last long - soon the "hungry" cries were sounding and Mom Ellie was off having a 90-minute massage! "Susan, in the fridge

there's a bottle. Ellie said to heat it for a few minutes in hot water and then it will be good." None of the micro wave nonsense that releases all the nasties. So with Liam yelling his head off, I hustled and we got the pumped breast milk warm and soon he was
snoozing again.

It takes a village - or at least two grannies!

But oh my goodness, how we get out of practice! We used to do that without even thinking!


What a treat it was, and when grandpa Bill showed up, all thumbs, but proud as can be, showing off the first grandbaby, it is hard to describe. Impossible to describe is more like it. I can't wait to be down in SoCal to see my nine-month old Oliver in three weeks.

It is interesting, though. We make jokes about handing them back when they yell, and it's true. That frantic baby yelling doesn't affect me like it did when it came from my primary flesh and blood. Maybe grandparents should raise the little ones - think more logically and unemotionally! Nah... you have to have those heart-wrenching experiences to get to be older and wiser.

So youngsters, enjoy those sleepless nights - they are character builders, and one day, you too will be a grandparent.