Life is Sweeter at Grandmas

Life is Sweeter at Grandmas

They’ve always said that being a grandparent is where life truly begins. Now, I’m not exactly sure who the collective “they” is, but whoever they are… I believe them. I know that being a Lolli has a way of filling my heart in places I didn’t even know were empty. It doesn’t matter what they call you, Lolli or Pop, Honey or Poppa, or Maw-Maw those little hands have a way of wrapping around your heart and easily taking top priority in your life.

My grandmother lived about twenty minutes from my parents, and I spent every chance I had with her. My summers were filled with adventures at Maw-Maw’s house, and I loved her so. Her words could be a little salty, her schedule was unwavering, and she made the rules… and you would do well to follow them. 

Long before I even thought about waking up, her coffee was already made, hot, black, and brewed in a simple metal pot. No espresso. No lattes. Nothing fancy. And somehow, that was exactly how every day started. She served a homestyle Cajun meal every single day. Everything was served with a heaping helping of “bless your heart” wisdom and a spoonful of witty one-liners that would either make you laugh or rethink your life choices.

Mornings meant The Price Is Right, afternoons meant Family Feud, and somewhere in between…We went to church. Every. Single. Day. She always wore an ensemble of neatly pressed black or navy slacks, and a crisp button-down every time she left the house.  

My summer afternoons were spent in Maw-Maw’s backyard making mud pies and having picnics. She would fix us a spread of potted meat sandwiches and our favorite snacks. Not long after lunch she would come to get us to take a nap. I would always tell her that I wasn’t tired. She would always remind me I didn’t have to sleep; I just needed to “rest my eyes.” The handmade quilt on the bed was white and it was a prized possession, so we slept on a pallet on the floor. You did not touch that quilt on the bed, not ever. 

A visit to Maw-Maw’s was never complete without a party. I would slip into my church clothes taking my job very seriously, carefully serving drinks with my favorite party foods coming out of Maw-Maw’s kitchen to everyone gathered around. It created some of my most special memories. 

Shirley Temples were always the highlight of the evening. She would warn us not to drink them too fast, or we would get “woozy,” and we would giggle like it was the funniest thing we had ever heard.

Looking back now, I realize those moments were never really about the party. They were about being together, slowing down, and holding on to something simple and good. And maybe, without even knowing it, she was teaching me how to savor it all.

Today, I am “Lolli” to three grandchildren who are quickly growing up. And I hope I give them even a fraction of what she gave me. Because I know this much for certain, my life was sweeter because of her. My son often jokes that Gen X grandparents aren’t like the ones I grew up with and he’s right. Life looks different now. And many of us are navigating a completely different kind of season than the grandparents who came before us. I’m flying solo, retirement is still more than a decade away, and most days I’m running just as hard as my adult children and their young families. But I recognize there is only a small window of time when we are their favorite place to be, before the world gets bigger, before their lives get fuller, and before we become a smaller part of their everyday. In this season of life, time is currency. And if we’re not careful, we’ll spend it everywhere and miss the very moments we’ll one day wish we could buy back. Remember to take the time to drink in all these special moments because just like Maw Maws sweet tea it will be gone before you know it.