Learning Grandmothering

Grandma Mary and her 15 grandchildren, 2002

My oldest daughter Anne is pregnant; she is due May 2. I am thrilled beyond expressing. My mother, Grandma Mary, who died in April 2004, was a truly great grandmother. She first became a grandmother at age 51, ten years before I will. I had a great grandmother as well--Grandma Nolan. She was only 48 when I was born. My parents lived in her house for the first two years of my life; my father was overseas fighting World War II for part of that time. Grandma Nolan died in 1985; she knew all my children. She had 23 great grandchildren. I feel great loss that my mother isn't alive to enjoy her great grandchildren and to teach me how to grandmother. I have many pictures of Grandma Mary with her grandchildren. I hope they will jog my memory about her many gifts.