When I first became a grandma, I figured it would come naturally, like those awkward teenage years when we learned about, well, other things. I imagined that the arrival of my first grandchild would be a magical moment where the skies opened up, and sparkles would rain down upon me. Instead, it turns out that the only sparkles are in my caffeine-fueled eyes after a long day with the little ones.
After welcoming four grandkids over the past eight years, I’ve discovered that grandparenting isn’t as rosy as I once thought. Here are the seven dirty little secrets I wish I knew ahead of time:
1. Favorites Exist, Even If You’re Not Supposed to Have Them
Let’s be real: favorites happen. Whether it’s the one who doesn’t drool all over you or the one who brings you their favorite toy—it can change from day to day. Sometimes, it’s just about who shows up with fewer snotty noses.
2. No Magical Skills Come with the Title
Even if you’ve had kids of your own, there’s an expectation that you’ll morph into a grandparenting expert overnight. The truth? When I stub my toe, I’m still the same person unleashing a string of colorful language, and that doesn’t suddenly vanish because of a tiny human in the room. Expect your kids to remind you about setting a “good example.”
3. Board Games Can Be a Nightmare
You may think you’ll enjoy playing games with your grandkids, but after several rounds of “Candy Land,” you might find yourself daydreaming about the fate of its characters. Will Princess Lolly finally toss Queen Frostine into the Molasses Swamp? You’ll be trying to zip through the game, wishing for a quick escape.
4. You’ll Do the Heavy Lifting
When your kids drop by, you might quickly become the go-to caregiver, fetching snacks and changing diapers while they binge-watch the latest series. You might even remember doing this to your own parents, but let’s not dwell on that.
5. Tiredness Hits Hard
By the time you have grandkids, you’re not quite as spry as you used to be. Chasing after toddlers? That’s a whole new level of exhausting. You might find yourself collapsing on the couch, wondering how you ever managed to do this with your own kids.
6. Baking Isn’t as Glamorous as It Seems
You once envisioned yourself as the perfect grandma in an apron, whipping up delicious cookies from scratch. Fast forward to reality: you find yourself reaching for frozen waffles more often than you’d care to admit, especially when little hands get involved.
7. Prepare for Gross-Out Moments
Kids can be, well, gross. From sneezes directly into your mouth to sticky hands all over your face, it can be hard to keep things clean. When they all jump into bed for a movie marathon, you may enjoy the moment—but you’ll also seriously consider burning your sheets afterward.
Despite these not-so-glamorous truths, grandparenting has its joys. Sure, you might be stuck playing Candy Land, but that sweet little voice asking you to join in can melt your heart every time. And those messy mornings spent baking with the grandkids? They’re what memories are made of, even if it means cleaning up a flour explosion.
You’ll tire out after long days, but it’ll be a happy exhaustion. You might even find yourself showing off photos of your grandkids to anyone who will listen, with a smirk, because you know your grandkids are the best.
And even if you have to step in as the parent sometimes, seeing your kids relax and become a bit carefree again is pretty rewarding. After all, it’s not just about the grandkids; you’d move mountains for your children too—even if they do scold you for teaching the grandkids to use phrases like “what the heck” at just the right moment.
In the end, becoming a grandparent doesn’t change who you are; it simply expands your heart and brings a splash of joy that you never quite knew you were missing.
For more insights on family and parenting, check out our post on home insemination techniques, or learn about effective artificial insemination kits that can help on your journey. The CDC also provides an excellent resource for understanding pregnancy and reproductive health.