Enthusiasm Gets Me In Trouble
You go on with life one day at a time. You find that perfect person to spend the rest of your life with, get engaged, married, have children—and for a while, things are well, even peaceful. In the back of your mind, though, you know another chapter is waiting. Grandchildren. Of course, that’s one thing you have no control over. All you can do is dream, hope, and pray that someday this blessing will be yours to enjoy.
One evening, Art and I went out to dinner with our daughter, Michelle, and her husband. Now, since this was not the usual weekday outing, I suspected something was up. Sure enough, when the conversation turned to a “special announcement,” my big mouth got ahead of me. I blurted out the surprise—Michelle was pregnant! Art and I were about to become first-time grandparents.
Well, Michelle was not exactly thrilled that I had guessed. (Come on now, this wasn’t rocket science.) Her hormones took over, tears flowed, and I was in trouble for spoiling the moment. But that passed quickly, and we spent the following months preparing for our little bundle of joy—our “Peanut.” In 1995, Bradley arrived, and we were unbelievably thrilled and yes, enthusiastic.
A couple of years later, our excitement grew again with the arrival of our pumpkin, Nathan, and then the princess herself, Jessica.
But the story didn’t stop there. Lisa and Craig were in the long, emotional process of adoption. What a rollercoaster that was—swinging from despair to hope, and back again. In the end, we were blessed with another trio of joys: Lukas and Kadon, adopted from Russia, and Aubrey, adopted from Texas.
So, six in all. Six blessings that filled our lives with more enthusiasm, excitement, and joy than we ever dreamed possible.
I’ve been fortunate to share close relationships with each one. I often say I never got into so much trouble until I became a grandparent. Somehow, those six know exactly how to talk me into the strangest situations—the kind that usually get us all into mischief.
- Bradley used to spend a week camping with Art and me while his parents went back to work. To help him not miss them so much, we promised him a camping toy. Well—one toy quickly turned into a new toy every single day.
- Nathan told me he had his temps when he didn’t, and somehow talked me into letting him drive to Walgreens. He mixed up the gas and the brake—and drove right into the store. Yes, into the store.
- Jessica was left in charge of the “little boys” (Lukas and Kadon) while I ran out for about ten minutes. A wrestling match broke out, and Jessica decided the best solution was to call 911. So when I pulled into the driveway, the police were pulling in right behind me.
- Lukas was always told that my house was his safe place. If he needed me, he knew he could come—and he did, frequently. Much to his parents’ dismay.
- Kadon convinced me to steal some dishes from a restaurant—telling me his parents did it all the time. (They did not.)
- Aubrey cleverly schedules her orthodontist appointments during the school day around lunchtime, so I’m the chauffeur—because that guarantees McDonald’s afterward. Her mother isn’t a fan of this arrangement.
But here’s the truth: grandchildren are life’s way of apologizing for teenagers.
Click here to check out other Sidetracked opinions
Click here to listen to the Overcoming Writer’s Block podcast
Want to create your own legacy? Join the Sidetracked Sisters and start now!
Ever thought about working with a Life Coach? Are you a woman over 50 who feels unfulfilled in your long-term relationship? Lisa can help you rekindle love and joy, and avoid a “gray divorce.” Check out Lisa Hoffman Coaching.
#sidetrackedsisters #sidetrackedsandy #sidetrackedspaces #sidetrackedlegacies #legacywriting #legacystories #writeyourownlegacy #LisaHoffmanCoaching #GrandchildrenStories #FamilyMemories #FunnyGrandkids #GrandmaLife #LegacyWriting #FamilyStories #LifeWithGrandkids #FamilyJoy #GrandparentLove
Don’t stop here—peek at the rest of our Sidetracked Sister shenanigans at https://www.linktr.ee/@SidetrackedSpaces
