My mother always called me an “old soul.” This had more to do with my maturity level, and taste in music, and less to do with my overall demeanor. But the fact of the matter still remained: if I wasn’t already similar enough to my grandmothers, I have slowly become one and the same with them. These are a few reasons why I have turned into my grandmas.
1. Cleanliness
I have found myself becoming more aware of the filth that surrounds me. Granted, I have always been extremely clean and organized, but I continue to turn into more of a neat freak daily. I watched one grandmother wash her dishes, and realized I’ve been doing it wrong this whole time. My already high standards shot through the roof. I dream about Swiffering floors, and carry Tide to Go and Clorox Bleach pens on my person at all times. You know how your grandma’s house always has that certain perfume smell hanging in the air? Yah, I even invested in one of those expensive sprays, so even the air is clean.
2. HGTV
You don’t know it until you’ve tried it. Watch one episode of "Love It or List It" and you’ll never watch another channel again. I’ve lost days of my life watching show after show about original Victorians, how to stain hardwood floors, or barnyard chic remodels. I’m not even close to owning my first home, yet I can’t walk into a new house without thinking to myself “Hm, I think I would tear down this wall and add in a window seat, so that the natural lighting flows through to the living room.” I’m also not quite sure why this is a grandmother’s channel of choice, but this is definitely an incident of “Grandmother knows best,” because trust me, there is nothing more satisfying than scrolling through Joanna Gaines’ Instagram, chock-full of succulents and refurbished windows.
3. Antiquing
Along with the affinity for HGTV, naturally grandmothers (and myself) have a love for all things antique. To put it in perspective, my idea of a fun day hanging out with friends is spending hours looking through antique shops. If it’s over 50 years old and has a peeling paint job, I want it. But it doesn’t end there -- this is where all those hours watching HGTV come into play, and I dream of all the ways to turn that antique into a part of the house that I keep decorating, but still don't own.
4. Phone Calls/Social Media
I spend quite a bit of time on the phone with one grandma, and stay in touch with another through Facebook. If I have any gossip to share, or questions about a school assignment, before I go to a friend, I go straight to a grandma. The only people who talk to grandmas more than I do are my grandmothers themselves, talking to all of their other grandma friends. And even with a strong social media presence, I struggle using any form of technology. I’m constantly asking my brother to show me how to use basic features on my phone, before I end up showing my grandma how. In fact, I think my grandmothers know how to use Facebook better than I do.
I’ve embraced my transformation from 20-year-old college student to grandmother. After all,who doesn't want to be more like their grandmothers?
