I Survived the First Week of College

I've been reading quite a few blogs this week written by parents whose children have gone off to school for the first time. Many parents express sadness that their little ones are growing up and beginning to leave the nest.

On Monday, my daughter began her freshman year at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. She's an "Aggie"---whatever that is. Her first class on Monday was at 8am---Math---a subject she not only hates but hasn't done well in since elementary school. She says it's remedial math so all of the students are on the same level---which she finds refreshing. But she did tell me she's starting out with a 4.0 average so I should be proud.

She's also taking some other courses that seem to have nothing to do with her major but that's how it seems to be for incoming freshmen. Get them acclimated to college life before you stick it to them in the classroom.

She called me every day this week to give me an update on her campus experience. The food in the cafeteria is terrible; there are parties EVERY night; she needs a computer; she hates walking everywhere and her room mate loves watching The History Channel.

Although she would never admit to being homesick, today's she's back home with her dirty laundry. (Since she has no car, I had to drive up to get her).

It looks like we both survived the first week.

If Your Child Isn't Talking by Age Two...

I just read an interesting report on children and speech. According to the study 80 percent of children with language delays at age 2 will catch up by age 7. But this also means that for one in five late-talking toddlers, language delays will persist.

By age 2, children should have a vocabulary of about 50 words and be starting to combine those words in two- or three-word sentences.

The researchers found that boys are three times as likely as girls to be late-talking toddlers. Yet when the children were 7 years of age, no differences were found between girls and boys.

For children who are still late talkers in school, the researchers say it is very important to provide early intervention and enrichment. Parents may even want to contact a speech pathologist if they have any concerns.

The data collected in the research also indicates that a mother’s education, income, parenting style and mental health does not predict when a child will start to talk. This seems to debunk the widely held belief that parents or a poor home environment are to blame for a late-talking toddler.

Based on this information, it appears my 21-month-old grandson is way ahead of the curve. He has been speaking for at least four months. As a matter this morning, when he was on the potty, he said something I had never heard him say before. He called to me and when I went to see what he wanted, he said, “Never mind.”

He has it honest though. After all, his baby boomer diva grandmother is a journalist who loves to use words.

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"