“Have you spoken to any relatives lately,” Maga asked.
“Not in person, but on text messages and FaceTime, yes.”
“Oh, those phones these days.”
“You got it.”
“Have you spoken to your mother lately? How’s she doing?”
“Busy with the [College] record book.”
“Oh, yes. That is keeping her so busy, isn’t it?”
“Did you work on your [College] reunion record book?”
“No, your mother’s a bit more involved than I am.”
I laughed, but was then struck by the truth of her words. At the honesty. At the authenticity.
[Which I recognized due to all prior conversations + visits + recent chats with my mother and her siblings, which mostly occurred while we were there for her 98th birthday.]
Grandparents can be more honest with their grandkids because there’s a level of distance there. You can be a more authentic version of yourself because you don’t have to be perfect, because you’ve had time to come to terms with yourself, because you’re not the one in charge. It’s the same as being an aunt/uncle. [Which rocks!] You can support the younger generation while knowing they’re in the best hands – their parents’ – so all you have to do is provide the fun, the sunshine, the love.
Abigail Mumford 