BIG NEWS!!!
I am going to be a GRANDMA!! Eve & Patrick found out this last week they are having a little girl. The baby is due in mid-August.
We are so thrilled for them! But I’ve also been thinking, “How in the world did I get here?”
Who knew 21 years ago that I’d be a mother to adults, teens, tweens, kids, toddlers, and babies and now a grandma too all at the same time? And all before the age of 40! Is there a manual for this somewhere?
The kids are thrilled to be aunts and uncles, except Henry. He doesn’t know anything. He’ll be an uncle at the ripe old age of one!
If you grew up with similar family dynamics how was it? If you’ve been a mother/grandmother in a similar situation do you have any advice?
I love it! I grew up in a somewhat similar family. I took my baby sister over to my college apartment a time or two to show off how motherly I was to all the boys I liked. ? My baby sister has always seemed more like one of the nieces and nephews and I’m more like an aunt to her. I’m kind of sad that we didn’t get to grow up together.
My only suggestion is to encourage your older kids to do what they can to have a close relationship with the youngest kids. It’s hard when there’s such an age gap and the older ones move out.
You’ll love being a grandma! It will be easy because you’re still in “baby mode. ” You probably have a baby-proofed house, plenty of toys, a swing, a stroller, etc. It’s a lot harder to transition to being a grandmother when you haven’t had young kids around for 10 years.
Congrats!
YAAAY!!! Congrats to Eve and Patrick! And to you and Joseph. Being a grandma is way fun! My baby was a bit older when our first grand baby was born, but I kind of get where you’re coming from. It’s amazing, isn’t it? And it’s all good! Except now you kind of tend to worry double because you’re both worried over that baby AND for her parents because you know how they feel too. But you also feel double the joy. It’s really quite awesome! Hope all goes well and wish you all all the best!
I’ve mentioned to you already my similar family (very similar — 11 kids, and youngest sister and oldest nephew about a year apart). I truly did love it. I still love it. I only know it from the younger end as I was the tenth kid, and it is true that my oldest brothers seem more like close uncles as I didn’t grow up playing and interacting with them (though my older sisters don’t feel that way — they carted us around and babied us and had us at their married homes so often that they are more like second mothers). But I don’t know that there is only one “good ” in sibling dynamics. It’s more like I just got MORE sibling types of relationships than most people ever get. The siblings who I grew up with playing and fighting 😉 and going on vacations with (who are still my closest friends), my wise older brothers who I respect and would go to for advice even if they were off on missions and getting married before much typical sibling interaction. And my sisters who were like mothers and I’m still as close to anyone despite our age gaps. AND, then it introduces this whole new spread of relationships. The nieces and nephews who were born when I was younger are almost like younger siblings, but extra adored because I got to baby them and never experience sibling quarrels with them. They now have kids my kids she’s who seem more like their first cousins than the actual first cousins do (they seem like aunts and uncles). It’s strange in some ways to have some not typical relationships, but it always amazes me and makes me so happy that I have this huge broadened array of close close familial relationships. So much variety. So many different needs filled. It’s awesome.
Congratulations to everyone! I’m actually 38, will be 39, before my little one is due at the end of August.
Congratulations!! What an exciting time for your family. I know you’ll be just as wonderful of a grandmother as you are a mom.
Congrats! I’m so excited for you! I’m still waiting to be a grandma.:) I did go through the same thing when I was Eve’s age. My mom had two more boys after I was married (she was pregnant at my wedding). My oldest son and my youngest brother are 6 months apart. The other brother is 1 1/2 years older. The three are close and were on missions at the same time, roomed together one year at BYU, and at each ither’s weddings. They are more like cousins. For me the youngest siblings are more like nephews. It’s an unusual, but fun dynamic. Actually, up until this last century, these situations were common. You will be a wonderful grandma! You already love her, and you have your priorities in order. Thank you for your blog, and sharing the gospel with everyone.
Congrats!! I’m sure being a young grandma will be wonderful because you can still do so many physical things with your grandchild. And his or her Uncle Henry will be a great friend, almost like a cousin.
See I’m behind on my blogreading (since I’m barely staying afloat right now) so I just got to this older post. This is pretty much what I was talking about in my e-mail. Because I always imagined doing things as a family, and my children growing up together, but that’s not really how it works with large families…these comments were interesting to read through, though basically just a confirmation of that reality. I think I’ve got some serious mom-guilt over beginning to separate more regularly for different activities–sure that somebody is being neglected in the process.
I got your email Jeanette! I’m still trying to find time to really give it the answer it deserves. 😀