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Childhood memories are hard for me. I don't have many good ones. I remember wishing I had the memories of the family of "Little House on the Prairie."
When I became a mother, that's what I was striving for. It spurred me on when our community hosted a mock land run for the Cherokee Strip Centennial celebration in 1993. With the help of friends and my Mother-in-Love, I made historical outfits for all of us. Our youngest at the time wore her great-grandmother's baby dress. I had so much fun learning how to sew these clothes that I just kept sewing for myself, our children, our home and friends. |
Sewing is my therapy, and I've used it to create new memories with family and friends throughout the past 30+ years.
Now I'm a Meemaw and I'm feeling a bit lost since I left the full-time job. THE JOYFUL LIFE magazine recently shared an article, 5 Traditions to Start with Grandchildren for Making Lifelong Memories which really struck a cord with me.
Grandmother-hood is not what I expected
I've really looked forward to grandchildren, but it's not been quite what I anticipated.
I really don't know what I was expecting. The babies are precious. As par for the course around here, they think their grandfather is awesome and I just seem to be that crazy lady he lives with. I'm okay with that. He's so good with children.
I've noticed a tendency in myself to concentrate on beholding our daughters as mothers. They're both doing such an amazing job with their little ones. They handle motherhood completely different from one another, like they have with every thing else in their lives. They are such completely different personalities. Their babies are happy, healthy and relatively well behaved for their ages. I can't ask for more.
When they come over, I steal my kisses and tickles. Yes, they are stolen. They look at me like, "Oh it's Meemaw's thing. Let's get it over with so I can go play." Then they run off to one of the aunts or uncles and start dragging toys out.
I really don't know what I was expecting. The babies are precious. As par for the course around here, they think their grandfather is awesome and I just seem to be that crazy lady he lives with. I'm okay with that. He's so good with children.
I've noticed a tendency in myself to concentrate on beholding our daughters as mothers. They're both doing such an amazing job with their little ones. They handle motherhood completely different from one another, like they have with every thing else in their lives. They are such completely different personalities. Their babies are happy, healthy and relatively well behaved for their ages. I can't ask for more.
When they come over, I steal my kisses and tickles. Yes, they are stolen. They look at me like, "Oh it's Meemaw's thing. Let's get it over with so I can go play." Then they run off to one of the aunts or uncles and start dragging toys out.
Memories aren't always the same as reality
I've noticed even the children I use to babysit remember things very differently than you would expect. I never thought I was much fun. I'm a fairly serious, get'r done type person. I have checklists and routines and I get caught up in making sure things are safe and in order. But the children remember the fun. They remember the trouble as fun. They remember the mundane and seemingly boring things as amazing. Even traumatic events tend to be remembered more as an adventure, in many cases. It amazes me how a child's mind works.
Soaking it in
For the moment, I'm just basking in the beauty of our family. Toddlers have such a short attention span, so baking with them is momentary fun before they're off to explore something else. They aren't ready for activities or tea parties yet.
I have matching outfits cut out for them out of fabrics I made a scrappy skirt from and patterns are out for more projects. I'll be in my happy place, they'll have cute outfits to play and get dirty in and it'll make cute pictures for preserving these memories.
In the meantime, I'm taking some ideas from the article I shared above, remembering some of the fun things my grandparents did with me and that Paul's parents did with our children.
One of these days, these little ones will have at least a few special memories of their Meemaw.
What are some special memories you have of your grandparents? If you're in that season of life now, what are a few traditions you do with your grandchildren? I'd love to know!
I have matching outfits cut out for them out of fabrics I made a scrappy skirt from and patterns are out for more projects. I'll be in my happy place, they'll have cute outfits to play and get dirty in and it'll make cute pictures for preserving these memories.
In the meantime, I'm taking some ideas from the article I shared above, remembering some of the fun things my grandparents did with me and that Paul's parents did with our children.
One of these days, these little ones will have at least a few special memories of their Meemaw.
What are some special memories you have of your grandparents? If you're in that season of life now, what are a few traditions you do with your grandchildren? I'd love to know!
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