Life Stages by Melinda Curtis

On February 15th, I became a grandmother for the first time. My mother (age 92) told me it was odd to think about her baby being a grandmother. In my mind, I'm not an eternal 25, but I am not a grandmother. When I was growing up, grandmothers were gray haired. They wore thick glasses. They sat around watching Phil Donahue and knew how to knit.

But that wasn't the only right of passage I've experienced in the past few months. In December, my baby girl finished up her student teaching and began substitute teaching. I am no longer supporting her (that deserves a round of applause). And then in January, she got engaged. Which means two of my children will be married.

Not to be outdone, my challenge child finally chose a college major and became mostly independent financially. This young man who resisted authority and once ran away from home is now employed, in community theater, pulling As, and such a pleasure to be around.

All this got me thinking. Life is never static. We are always changing. Our situations are changing. Our bodies are changing. So why do we stop and scratch our heads at the new labels we've earned?

Empty nesters.

Mother of the bride.

Grandma.

Did you ever pass through a life stage and earn a new label - 55 and older anyone? - and think what? How did this happen?

Melinda Curtis is an award-winning, USA Today bestseller. She writes sweet romance for Harlequin
Heartwarming, sweet romantic comedy, and sexy sports contemporaries. Her latest release is Marrying the Wedding Crasher, about a man who needs a date for his brother's wedding.

Comments

  1. I have to admit, it's not so much that the new stages happen, it's that they happen so quickly. Why just the other day, I was picking out wedding china, and now my youngest is six years older than I was when I married.

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  2. I hear you, Beth! As my oldest prepares to graduate high school in a few months and my youngest studies for his permit to drive, I find myself becoming a kind of part-time or even--on-call--mom. Weird but right.

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    1. It is a transition to go from taking them everywhere to not knowing exactly where they are or what they're doing...in the case of college - in another state!

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  3. I think that every time there's something new, but it's like Beth says--it all happens so quickly. By the time you learn to enjoy every stage (including the ones with the "challenge child") you're moving on to another. The grandparent gig, though, is just so cool...

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    1. I was able to spend 2 weeks with her, so I'm feeling blessed, Liz

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  4. Congratulations. As a new grandmother of six months, I still get a thrill looking through baby clothes again at the store.

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    1. Oh, gosh. They received so many clothes that I've not bought any!

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  5. Well, I like these designations better than the ones that usually define women--mainly reproductive phases, from prepubescence and all those in between stages through perimenopause, menopause, and finally post-menopause. Give me a break! It's certainly more enjoyable to just go from mom to grandma. For me, the best part has been watching my son be such a modern dad to his boys. It's really touched my heart.

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  6. Congratulations again on being a grandma, Mel! You will be the coolest g-ma ever. I do kind of believe that saying that age is a state of mind. I just wish it wasn't also a state of body. I'm not a fan of my body telling me one thing and my brain another.

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  7. I feel like I'm just a couple steps behind. Got about a year until kids are out on their own, and hopefully the grandchild thing comes after that. It's hard to imagine my kids getting married even, though the oldest is almost the same age I was when I got married.

    Since that's my first book over on the side, right now I'm just ecstatic that I have a new label of writer I've earned -and I'm scratching my head over it for sure.

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  8. I think it's great that life is always changing as wouldn't it be boring otherwise? Keeping up with grandkids is like being on a treadmill, a good one. Keeps one's mind young and relevant. This generation is so on the ball compared to my generation. I assume each one will know more, do more, and we oldsters need to hang on and learn from them. Congrats on joining the grandmother club.

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  9. Congratulations on being an eternally youthful mother to the second power. Your book cover is gorgeous! I love that she's wearing a flower crown.

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  10. I've passed the stage where I can join AARP. At first I was "no way", but now I'm closer to "I probably should".
    Congrats on being a grandma though you can't watch Phil Donahue since he retired "ages" ago.

    Marcie R

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  11. I'm having issues believing I'm heading fast toward 50. How did that happen?! Congratulations, gramma!!

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  12. The website looks great! I can remember sitting at a concert listening to the Temptations in oh, around 2005 and wondering, Where did all the years go? Odd feeling.

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  13. LOL, my son turned 13 a week and a half ago. How did that happen. He's supposed to be turning three. He's starting to look at me like I've lost my mind when I tell him what to do... and then I remember he's not three. Congrats on being a grandmother. I miss holding a baby....

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