When Grandma Becomes Ma

I have joined the ranks of a growing number of baby boomers who have taken on the task of raising their grandchildren.

No, I'm not doing it because I want to. I'm doing it because it's necessary. I'm doing it because I want my daughter and her son to have a chance to beat the odds and the stereotypes placed on them by the "do-gooders" of our society.

My daughter started college this week in another part of the state. She had the option of taking her soon-to-be-two-year-old with her or leaving him here with me. I chose option B. My daughter is still trying to get her own life together and having her son with her would only get in her way from accomplishing her goals.

The way I see it, my role of being a grandparent is more important than ever. My grandson is among a number of children being raised in single-parent households and as a young black male, the odds are already stacked against him before he can talk.

Being a good grandparent today requires all the wisdom, understanding, patience and love I've acquired throughout my lifetime.

It means grandma wears another hat: "MA"

Comments

Janie said…

AWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!! Ma and I know with the decision you and nate chose to make also came with alot sacrifices I just want to let you know how thankful and appreciative I am. I LOVE YALL. MUAH!!!!!!!!!!

8/19/2008 6:02 PM

18 Years

During a recent trip to my doctor's office for my annual health check-up, I got news I'm not sure I thought I would ever hear. "You can stop taking your carvedilol." I'd been taking this medication for congestive heart failure.

My story of having congestive heart failure began 18 years ago around 2:30 in the morning. I was lying in bed trying to sleep but I was having trouble breathing. I was gasping for air. I leaned over to my husband (ex) and told him how I was feeling and asked him to take me to the hospital. He didn't move so I drove myself to the ER and ended up being admitted, where I stayed for 10 days. Not only did I have to worry about getting better but I also had to be concerned about my 10-year-old daughter's welfare since she was now in the sole custody of her father, who was absent from the family more times than he was present.

Little did I know at the time just how sick I was. I was already being treated for hyperthyroidism but th…

Survey says Christmas is about the Experience not the Gifts

If there's a survey out somewhere, you can believe I'll find it and share it----like this one on what Americans say they want for Christmas.

E-X-P-E-R-I-E-N-C-E! Yes, according to a report released by IfOnly, an overwhelming 81 percent of respondents said they preferred an "experience" over any other type of gift.

Okay, so the next question is, what kind of experience?

39 percent said go on a helicopter tour
32 percent said go on a private tour of a museum
27 percent said pet a panda at the zoo

But get this: 36 percent of those who took the survey said they would rather spend the holiday with a wild animal than with their in-laws.

75 percent of Millennials said they would do anything in exchange for an incredible experience while nearly half of those surveyed said they would give up an hour of sleep for the entire holiday season to have an incredible experience instead of receiving a gift certificate.

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The number one pie enjoyed by families across America is pumpkin once again. Thirty-six percent of those surveyed favored it over pecan pie, which came in a distant second at 17 percent.

In other survey results,pumpkin pie is enjoyed most in the West and least in the South. That's not a surprising statistic because Southerners love their sweet potato pies loaded with lots and lots of sugar. A dentist's dream.

Apple pie came in third with 14 percent, followed by sweet potato at 10 percent, chocolate 9 percent, lemon meringue 4 percent, blueberry and cherry tied at 3 percent and strawberry at 2 percent.

Of course, while this survey may or may not be relevant, Delta Dental's message is that whatever pie you eat this holiday season that you "remember to take the time to brush and floss away the sugary remnants."

Goo…

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