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Last weekend Cammy got to spend some much desired time with her Gigi, who is my mother and of course her grandmother. Cammy calls my grandmother, grandma, and her Grandmother Gigi. Why? because she said she isn’t a typical grandmother she didn’t want a typical title. But the thing is, in 2008, I think shes way more typical than one might expect.
Now, my grandmother is old school. She is the person who kisses boo boos, makes soul food, cuddles, stretches bed times and lets what few things I deem not okay, slide with the turn of the head. Shes the one who over bundles them in the winter and stiches clothes when torn. My grandma is the frequent baby sitter, (she actually comes to my house to keep Bri every day instead of sending her to daycare) the one Cammy runs to for extra affection and what one would consider typical grand-mothering.

My mother it seems belongs to a new breed of grandparent. Jerry and I often lament that 30 is the new 20, so then to our parents in their forties and fifties, fifty seems to be the new thirty.

My generation can no longer count on our parents to be waiting in the wings for grandchildren to become their evertything. Grandparents now a days are almost as plugged in as the grandchildren they are trying to avoid. My granny is on gmail and uses google talk. Alot. My mom is all about the newest Treo/Palm/Blackberry that will help her manage her business. My dad, is doin, dad things which I only know includes golf, lots of golf. Don’t get it twisted, all of Cammys grandparents pour out of the wood work for birthday parties, Bri’s christening was well attended by grandparents on both sides. If we tell them its important - they show up. Cammy has expressed desire to see her Papaw and he comes the very next weekend for a trip to chuck-e cheese. They are enthusiastic grandparents. But they are not the old school “Hey bring the grandbabies over..” breed of lore.

and honestly I’m not surprised. when I was a kid my grandmother was around, even then she was not like the grandmothers on TV. My granny didn’t even LOOK like the grannys on TV.
This is not my daughter idea of a granny. She is beautiful and this is a beautiful photograph by Michael Cunningham. But, she reminds me of my great-grandmother.
This however - what my kid knows as grandmothers. My mom to the rear in her natural state (aka having a good time) with her sister who is excitedly expecting her first grand child this fall.

They don’t do baking cookies. MAYBE from a package. If you don’t bring the ready made dough, and all the accoutrement necessary mind you, its a no go. They don’t OWN a rolling pin. Well, I gave my aunt one for christmas, after the christmas cookie fiasco of 2007, but I can’t say I think shes yet to use it other than to threaten her husband or son to take out the trash at this point. They aren’t making biscuits from scratch and spending lazy afternoons making lemonaide and watching the grand kids play in the yard. Grandparents today aren’t anymore the 50’s sterotype than we are as parents.
Cammys grandmother aka Gigi moments this weekend came from ordering Room service for the first time and dancing til the wee hours of the night. Learning how to manage her dress while serving with Aintee Syl. There are no arts and crafts happenin at Gigi’s house. While Gigi loves to come by when we are baking cookies or being crafty thats not what Gigis house if for per say. Gigi’s house is full of jewelry boxes to be poured out and perfumes to be sprayed. High heels to parade around in. And its all for Cammy, as my mother has yet to get the cahones to take both girls at the same time. Bri how ever is not going to allow for that much longer. (thats your fair warning Gigi )
In our world grands have full schedules and it takes weeks of advanced planning to get the kids in for overnights. In our world we are lucky that we have the multiple generations which give Cammy such VAST experiences with Grands.

how do grandparents work for you guys? Has it been what you expected?