Like many children, my grandparents are and will always be so special to me.
I'll never forget riding into town with my Grandpa Mathews in his old red truck, usually just me and him because I was the only one that wanted to go. We'd stop at the store and I'd always get a treat out of the 25 cent machines, something that I never got when I was with my parents. I don't blame my parents for never letting me get that junk, in fact I will do the same with my kids, but grandparents are allowed to get us that stuff. That's just what they do, right?!
I always thought my Grandma Mathews seemed so sophisticated, yet warm. She always had perfectly matching outfits and was never caught with her hair undone. She gave the best arm rubs and you could always count on her to have a pack of gum. In fact I wonder if she ever got in trouble for giving me a piece when I wasn't allowed to have any because I always got it tangled in my hair. Unfortunately, I could never master the art of 'popping' my gum like she did, even now I'm not sure how she did it.
My Grandpa Hunt, well it seems like he knows how to do everything! From electrical wiring to building a home to fixing cars, he can do it all (except for making sandwiches. He always tried to get me to do that for him but grandma inevitably came to my defense and told him to make his own darn sandwich haha!). I love going 4-wheeling with him, but the times when it was just me and him are always my favorite memories. And I'll never forget riding in his old Bronco where he always had a hat on the dash.
And my Grandma Hunt has always been a marvel to me. I love hearing about her latest genealogical puzzle and am constantly amazed that she can retain so much information! I love her low key, everyone is welcome, philosophy. She's definitely a fiesty one though and I always know she'll come to my rescue if I need her. Like the famous standoff between her and my dad when he tried to get me to swim when I was a kid. I was much too old to not know how, but I was still scared, so I ran behind her, knowing she'd protect me from him. And protect me she did! It's the stuff of legends.
I'm sure they are not perfect, but just like grandparents see their grandchildren through rose colored glasses, I think grandchildren often see their grandparents the same way.
I've often wondered what kind of grandparents my parents would be. They'll be the first to tell you they waited a l o n g time :) and I was sure they'd love it, but I could only ever see them as my parents. It was hard for me to imagine them as the can do no wrong people that my grandparents are to me.
It's been so fun watching them become grandparents. In many ways they are just the same as they've always been, but maybe something has changed too. I couldn't really put my finger on what, but then I came across a letter titled "The Magic of Becoming Grandparents" and thought it was incredibly spot on. I'm sure it's the same for Doug and Pam as well. I know they're enjoying this grandparenting gig too :)
I pasted the whole letter below, it's worth a read:
Dear Grandparents;
You are not who you used to be. The moment my husband entered the waiting room and smiled the words, “It’s a [boy],” you became something new and different, while being altogether exactly the people we had grown up with.
Before that moment, you were our parents. Nothing more. Nothing less. You were the ones who provided for us, comforted us, bailed us out, held us to consequences, and loved us unconditionally, whether we cared or not (though we usually did). You were either the gateway or the obstruction to everything we wanted to do and be…depending on the day. It was easy for us to find you annoying, or call you unfair, or roll our eyes, or take you for granted. Because we were your kids, and you were our parents. Nothing more. Nothing less.
But then you became grandparents…to our children. Now we are you, and you have suddenly become something magical.
I know this because my own grandparents are magical, and I see my children look at you the same way I looked at mine. To them, you are as safe, and as good, and as much like home as mom and dad, but with more patience and a LOT more sugar. You have a way of being right when “mom and dad just don’t understand”…even if you are basically saying the exact same thing. You keep little secrets with them which are harmless, but feel very important and empowering. You teach them the arts of “unplugged” hobbies, like sewing or gardening or baking, which seem fascinating done by your hands, yet totally old-fashioned by ours. And nothing in the world seems better than another dinner at that same Chinese restaurant, followed by a trip to “the ice cream store,” because that is how it works when they are with Grandma and Grandpa. It is expected and special all at the same time, which is how magic is made.
Those parts of you that were our favorites growing up, those are the ones our children see in you all the time.
The laughing part, the whispery kissing part, the fun and games part, the tickle bug part, the snuggly part, the indulgent part. Of course you couldn’t show those parts to us all the time; you had the very daunting task of raising us to be good, responsible people after all. But now that task is ours to undertake, leaving you free to show your favorite parts as much as you want. It makes us happy to see them, and to see our children enjoying them as we did.
Witnessing you as grandparents helps us see with new eyes how blessed we are to call you Mom and Dad.
See more at: http://www.scarymommy.com/becoming-grandparents/#sthash.YeLthK19.HzChgJsZ.dpuf
