The day I became a mother my parents became grandparents, or to my kiddos, Lolli and Pop. They have told me countless times that it is much more enjoyable to be the grandparent than the parent because you get to do all of the fun parts, and then go home.
I see this first hand when they give Logan donuts, sticky buns and sherbet all before lunch time, and then laugh while I try to convince her to eat something with nutritional value. Or play peek-a-boo with Erin while she is all smiles and hand her back to me when she decides enough is enough and starts to cry. “It must be nice” I always think to myself in these moments, but I chalk it up to, “that is the best part of being a grandparent.”
But just as there are perks of being the grandparents, there are perks for me too. In fact, one of my favorite parts of being a parent is seeing the love and adoration my parents have for my children. Through their interactions with Logan and Erin, I get to imagine what it was like when I was a baby.
I am 28 years old and blessed to have an amazing relationship with both of my parents, so it is hard to remember when they were “parents” and not just my best friends, which is the role they have taken on in my adulthood. Okay, maybe it isn’t TOO hard to remember my Dad getting angry because we touched the thermostat, or my Mom nagging because the dishwasher was never emptied.
But I don’t remember my parents when I was very little like my babies. I don’t remember them changing my diapers or tucking me in to sleep. I don’t remember them kissing my boo boos or reading me books. I have heard endless stories and seen many photos but unfortunately my memory doesn’t reach back that far.
But now that they are Lolli and Pop, I get to see my dad comfort and rock baby Erin to sleep in his arms, and imagine that he did that for me. I get to see my mom look at Logan like she is her entire world, like I know she looked at me. I always knew that my parents would make great grandparents, but I never quite imagined it to the level that they are.
And even though getting out to the beach on this evening was not easy- the kids were tired, clothes needed to be ironed, it was melt-your-skin-off-hot – It was all worth it. Because my kids won’t remember these moments either. Now they will have these photos to look back on and show them just how much their Lolli and Pop adore them.
