So I’m into this “Grandpa in training” stuff. If you didn’t read it last week, my daughter Sarah and my son-in-law Steven are expecting a baby in September. We don’t know yet if it’s a boy or a girl and yes, I guess everyone likes to know that now.
I wrote the other day how my wife, Priscilla, never wanted to know. Our children were born in 1989, 1993, 1996 and 1998 and while we could have known she liked to have that be her reward for going through the delivery.
One of the first things my daughter asked us was what we wanted to be known as. Grandma, grandpa, nana, puppa. I never knew there were so many options.
A quick Google search brings us thousands of options. I especially like:
MawMaw and Pawpaw
Gramms & Gramps
Mémé & Pépé
Gpa and Gma
Goma & Gompa
Big Daddy and Big Mama. NOW you’re talking!
I hope we don’t bore you but we’ve decided on Grammy & Grampy
Steven’s family is Spanish so they might go with Abuelo and Abuela.
I’ve already been declared the “Designated Napper.” The kids were talking about future vacations and they said, “Then dad can take the baby back to the hotel for a nap and we can (fill in the activity.)” Ya know, I’m okay with that. I’ve come to learn what my strengths and weaknesses are.
I was at the library the other day when a group of toddlers and their moms were riding the elevator with me from the meeting room up to the main floor at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven. I found myself making another mental note : “Introduce future grandbaby to reading. And the beautiful Millicent Library. ” We used to read to our kids every night.
From the department of “You win some, you lose some,” Steven is a Yankees fan. I know. I don’t know how I ever let my little girl marry him. He’s also a New York Giants fan. Sarah says they have already agreed that the baby can be a Yankees fan, (Oh the pain!) but he or she will be a Patriots fan. I’m just gonna sit back and see how this develops. They currently live in Virginia Beach and they have both said that there’s no way they will allow the child to be a Washington Redskins fan or Washington Nationals but who knows?
Question: Is that one of the benefits of being grandparents? “I’m just gonna sit back and see how this develops.” Thought so.
Priscilla is already planning to kidnap the baby every summer to bring him or her to, what we always called, “Camp Runamuck.” We raised four children and entertained nieces here at the beach in Fairhaven with the rule that the real world ended the moment you stepped into the yard so we’ll see how that goes. It is too hot in Virginia in the summer to go outside for long periods of time so there is that.
I guess I can look forward to revisiting Story Land and Santa’s Village. I have missed the gingerbread cookies.
I did realize the other day that I’m kind of out of it as far as Children’s TV goes. My kids grew up with “Blues Clues,” “Sesame Street,” “Hey Arnold” and “Sponge Bob.” I guess I need to know what “PAW Patrol,” “Peppa Pig” and “Daniel Tiger” are all about. It’s good to see that “Dora” is still an “Explorer.”
So here we go! It’s another adventure! I need to work on that “Silly ol’ grandpa routine.
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