Last semester, I had to write a paper about my view on grandparents being active members in the child-rearing process. I chose this topic at the very beginning of the semester because I related very strongly to it. Then, I found out later, that I wasn’t allowedto use personal experiences or opinions, which was a problem for me, because of how strongly I feel about this topic. I got through it, using the correct citations, and blah-blah-blah, but that inspired this.

1. For agreeing to take care of a week-old baby at 60 years old.

When I was only a week old, my mom went back to work. Yes, you read that right– a week old (she only went back two days a week, and stayed home with me for the other three, but still.) No reasonable, trustworthy daycare would obviously take a one-week-old infant into their care, so grandparents’ house was my daycare. I asked her why she decided to go back so quickly, she told me she knew I was in good hands. Now, I am very thankful that I never had to go to a daycare (I work at a daycare, and watching drop-offs in the morning kind of breaks my heart, not going to lie.)

2. For spoiling me, really, really, badly.

My grandparents lived above their small grocery/convenient store called Jim’s Stop & Shop while I was growing up. Almost all of my childhood memories are in that cute, intimate little country store. My grandma would pack me lunches for school from the store’s food, and my grandpa would let me pick out a VCR from his movie rental section and take it up to their house and watch it (he would even let me keep the favorites.)

My personal favorite was when my grandma would pick out a scratch-off ticket and help her see what all we won. I asked to stay at their house every weekend, and when my mom would come to pick me up, I would hide behind the couch, and have my grandparents tell my mom I wasn’t there anymore.

3. For being at Every. Single. Event. Ever.

When I got older, I stopped staying at my grandparent’s asmuch. I got busy with cheerleading, and acting in local plays, band, and school. I had little league football games, competitions, 4 showings of the same play - two weekends in a row once a month, and the dreaded, boring band concerts.

As I got older, I had multiple competitions every month, football games every Friday, basketball games a few times a week, and two boring band concerts a year. To this day, my grandparents have not missed one. My mother, yes, but my grandparents – Never. Not. One. Ever.

4. For running me around, to this day.

When my mom was out of town, and I needed a ride to a practice/game/competition, etc. – I called my grandparents. When I need a ride to the airport – I call my grandparents. When I’m going out of town and I need a cat-sitter, guess where they go? My grandparent’s.

5. For telling me how proud you are of me.

No matter how boring the band concert, no matter how many times you’ve seen me do the same play, no matter how awful my team did at a competition. When I got my first writing published, when I graduated high school, - You have always, always, always been proud of me, and you have never failed to make sure that I knew it.

6. For loving me endlessly, unconditionally, and whole-heartedly.

I will never, ever, be able to express how thankful I am that I got the privilege of being your granddaughter, and how much I freaking love the both of you. I am now almost 20 years old, and I would give anything at all for a free weekend to stay at my Ga and Pappy’s house – playing the old play-station, watching a VCR, and eating Eggo waffles (which are somehow WAY better at their house). I love you both with all of my being.