Grandma, Happy Mother’s Day! Now is Your Chance to Shine

Did you know? More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than on any other day of the year. These holiday chats with Mom (and Grandma) often cause phone traffic to spike by as much as 37 percent.

That’s no surprise! Everyone has a mother. And everyone is influenced by them. Of course, in a perfect world, that influence is beneficial. But then again, we don’t live in a perfect world.

That’s why God made grandmothers!

Being a grandma is a mom’s second chance.

For many women, being a grandma is a second chance to do everything we wished we had done as mothers. Pat G., a grandma at CRISTA Senior Living in Shoreline, WA,and explains why:

With the birth of each grandchild, God was giving me a second chance. When blessed as the Momma, I also acquired the laundry…no dryer and cloth diapers; breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the table; dish washing…by hand in the sink, etc. A twenty-four-hour day was never quite enough.

Having my own “Grands” meant I played dolls and Lego’s anytime we wanted. We reread every favorite book made for children 200 times until they just took off reading them to me. We learned the colors yellow, red and blue, conquered how to tie shoestrings, and learned how to blow giant bubbles. Oh, and did I mention the pure joy of rocking beautiful little bundles off to sleep while singing and caressing a sunbathed arm or recently bumped forehead?

What does it mean to be a grandma? Perhaps it’s a little gift for those 3rd and 4th chapters of my life. It absolutely means thanking God for being allowed to see those little “Grands” today as grown up, accomplished young adults giving promise for tomorrows future society. I can hear each of you saying that when I reach Heaven, God’s going to scold me for pride…guilty as charged!!

Ten Ways to Be a Stellar Grandma

• Do everything you can to support the new mama! Put her needs over your own wants. Make it your goal to build her confidence and help her bond with your new grandchild.
• Meet practical needs for food, water, and sleep – for both new parents – as best, you can, as often as you can. They are on 24/7 duty and need nurturing even if they don’t know it.
• Hold your grandbaby whenever you can, and be willing to give them back when asked.
• Follow the new parents’ lead in caring for your grandbaby. Do not feed the baby things they don’t want him or her to have. Do put the baby down for a nap if they ask you to.
• Don’t give advice. Just listen and agree with their parenting ideas.
• Make your house safe for baby.
• Let your enthusiasm and love for your grandbaby be known! This is your time to show photos whenever anyone asks, or even if they don’t. Show that beautiful baby off – but not on social media unless your kids give you permission. And don’t hand the baby off to other people without their permission, either.
• Buy appropriate gifts and consider checking in with the parents to see what your grandchild needs and wants. Look here for great toys and here for all-cotton clothing.
• Get down on the floor and be a kid again — enjoy every moment with those precious grandkids!
• Pray for your kids and your grandkids often. Speak scripture over them in your prayers. Believe God for the best things in their lives. Stormie Omartian’s book, The Power of a Praying Grandparent and Book of Prayers, is a great resource.

The Spiritual Legacy of Grandmas

If you are a Christian, your job of passing on Biblical truth to the next generation continues as a Grandma. You can significantly influence the lives of your grandchildren by showing them the love of Christ and teaching them the Gospel in how you live and what you say.

Judie H. at CRISTA Senior Living recalls the influence her grandma had on her life:

My first spiritual mentor was my grandmother Agnes. She always had a smile on her face and often had her Bible in one hand and her purse in the other. I often found her reading God’s word in her bedroom and watched her kneel in prayer. She told me that she prayed for me. It was not words spoken, but her life lived visually to see. What a comfort as I grew up.

Grandmas at CRISTA Senior Living in Shoreline and Silverdale, WA, take their role seriously, and they also have a lot of fun! Find out more by signing up for a tour at cristaseniorliving.org.