I'm Going to Be a Grandpa!
Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2008
by Danny Davids
"We're pregnant." That was it. No fanfare, no cute little hints or double entendres. Just two words pronounced by my older daughter. Two words that unceremoniously kicked me up into the next-higher age bracket.
Not that we weren't thrilled to hear the news. My daughter and son-in-law have been trying for several years to have children, and there have been problems. They've been seeing doctors and were going to start a series of treatments this fall. So for this to have happened was a total miracle. And we were ecstatic.
But after the euphoria wore off, reality set in. I couldn't help but think of all the changes that were about to occur because I'm on my way to becoming a grandpa. (After all, this isn't about my daughter, it's about me.) The most critical, of course, is everybody calling me "Grandpa", implying that I'm old now. Gag me. I've already warned the kids that their child will learn about all the best cartoons and CGI movies from me. Another is my using the terms "old man" and "Grandpa" when referring to guys who are slower than me. Those terms can now be applied to me. And I thought joining AARP was life-changing!
I couldn't help but compare what happened in our lives when our daughter was about to be born, and what is going to happen to us shortly after the first of the year. There are definite contrasts between becoming a parent and becoming a grandparent.
When you become a parent, you grow up. When you become a grandparent, you grow old.
When you become a parent, you start looking for a babysitter. When you become a grandparent, you ARE the babysitter.
When you become a parent, you worry about the baby's health. When you become a grandparent, you worry about your own health.
When you become a parent, you start planning your child's life. When you become a grandparent, you plan on how to prevent your kids from ruining your grandchild's life.
Parents plan. Grandparents scheme. (Nuh-UH!)
I'm sure there are other differences, but frankly I don't want to bother thinking about them right now. I'm more worried about my wife driving us to the brink of poverty because she wants to spend all her time shopping for maternity clothes and baby things. I'm going to have to reintroduce the word "no" into my vocabulary, not for the grandchild, but for my wife.
I keep hearing there are advantages to being a grandparent, and I'm sure you have too, so I won't bore you with all the saccharine quips. Part of me thinks this is just society's way of getting folks like me to accept the inevitable with grace and dignity. Please--I'm not sticking one foot in the grave just because a new life is about to enter the world!
On the other hand, you take what nuggets of wisdom you can when you find them. For example, my wife found a T-shirt the other day that pretty much says it all:
Grandpa's To-Do List
1. Fill grandkids with sugar and other sweet stuff.
2. Send them home.
I.
Want.
That.
T-shirt!
Not that we weren't thrilled to hear the news. My daughter and son-in-law have been trying for several years to have children, and there have been problems. They've been seeing doctors and were going to start a series of treatments this fall. So for this to have happened was a total miracle. And we were ecstatic.
I couldn't help but compare what happened in our lives when our daughter was about to be born, and what is going to happen to us shortly after the first of the year. There are definite contrasts between becoming a parent and becoming a grandparent.
When you become a parent, you grow up. When you become a grandparent, you grow old.
When you become a parent, you start looking for a babysitter. When you become a grandparent, you ARE the babysitter.
When you become a parent, you worry about the baby's health. When you become a grandparent, you worry about your own health.
When you become a parent, you start planning your child's life. When you become a grandparent, you plan on how to prevent your kids from ruining your grandchild's life.
Parents plan. Grandparents scheme. (Nuh-UH!)
I'm sure there are other differences, but frankly I don't want to bother thinking about them right now. I'm more worried about my wife driving us to the brink of poverty because she wants to spend all her time shopping for maternity clothes and baby things. I'm going to have to reintroduce the word "no" into my vocabulary, not for the grandchild, but for my wife.
I keep hearing there are advantages to being a grandparent, and I'm sure you have too, so I won't bore you with all the saccharine quips. Part of me thinks this is just society's way of getting folks like me to accept the inevitable with grace and dignity. Please--I'm not sticking one foot in the grave just because a new life is about to enter the world!
On the other hand, you take what nuggets of wisdom you can when you find them. For example, my wife found a T-shirt the other day that pretty much says it all:
Grandpa's To-Do List
1. Fill grandkids with sugar and other sweet stuff.
2. Send them home.
I.
Want.
That.
T-shirt!
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)I LOVE IT!!! (course, that is bc this is MY daddy!!!)You're biased, "Mom". :)
I loved this article! I have a toddler and an infant and my parents are definitely the star babysitters (and loving it!). Your creativity made me laugh today - thank you! Arlene PellicaneArlene, just remember that how you treat the grandparents today is how your kids will treat you when the next generation comes around--so be kind. :)
Danny, congrats to you and LM!! Thanks for the laughs. You're hilarious and the grandbaby will fall in love with you, schemer!Schemer? Moi? No way! *evil grin*
hi danny, congratulations. i have 3 kids who haven't hit that mark yet, but i have 2 step children who together have 3 daughters, and i was in Heaven babysitting for them. we'd go up to my room and snuggle and watch movies, and when they fell asleep, i would just stare in wonder at their sweetness and looks. being called grandma was spectacular, as well as getting grandma cards. looking forward to it and actually experienceing it are 2 completely different feelings. you will love it. thanks for sharng, best regards, sue thomBy the time my grandkids get to be old enough to know what's going on in the world, they'll already know their way around Fry's and be surfing the 'net like pros. :D
Hi Danny! Congrats to you and LM and to the soon to be parents, of course! Thank the Good Lord :-) and thanks for the warm smiles and laugh's as you shared this wonderful news with us! Extra special blessings to the little one!!Thanks, Teresa. I'm sure we'll find something to do with the latest branch of the family tree. Like hang laundry on it.
Danny, I look forward to your first article after you see your grandchild! I think grandchildren do for us whatever we are willing for them to do once we open our hearts wide. I know it's a bit scary, but no one knows the future, how people will react, etc. Enjoy a blessing that can only be because, along the line earlier, you were on this earth, became a dad,....!Dang it, Jane, now you've got me crying!!!!
What a great Father's day gift to receive such an announcement! Nadine and I have six! And 3 great-grandkids. Just wait 'til you get into my age bracket. I just found out today that they have raised the average lifetime in the U.S. to 78, so I have 3 more months to live before I go on borrowed time. I thought I already was! I hope all goes well with your daughter and baby and I wish you many happy returns...uh...not too many.By "many happy returns", Joel, I assume you mean returning the grandchild to the parents after I've torn down everything they've tried to teach the poor thing. If you mean the spitup and the messy diapers, though, I'm going to have to pass (no pun intended).Well, it all goes with it I reckon. (I meant many more grandchldren...but that can become hectic.) Just take an old codger's advice, enjoy your grand children, but let their parents enjoy theirs. Don't even think of babysitting your great grandchildren. You are too old, cranky and lacking in patience by that time...I enjoy seeing my progeny but I like the looks of the tail lights as they go back home best of all. That's downright sorry isn't it? But man, I can recall some incidents. I've been left at "home alone" with an infant a time or two...try to avoid that at all costs. Murphy's law is just waiting for a time such as this!. Best wishes..but prayer will help more than my wishes.I allowed that one to go through as anon...but it was only me. Joel
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