This is a guest post, written by Char Huskins. It is the first in a series of fun “Nana of the Week” columns.
In November, it will be ten years since my nephew was born and my mom became a “Mema”. In that ten years time, she has gained seven more grand-kids for a total of eight. Four boys and four girls. It’s been a pretty eventful decade!
I’m sure Nana-hood (or mema-hood) can take awhile for some people to get used to, but my mother was a natural from the start. She was a huge help to my sister when she had the first two grandkids, Austin and Hailey, back-to-back (15 months apart).
And a year later, when I adopted my son Samuel, my mom came to town within a week of his arrival in our home. From the moment she walked in the door and had Samuel in her arms, he adored her. See…
(Ok, so maybe the adoration is exuding off my mom more than Samuel in this picture, but I promise he has loved his Mema with all his heart since he met her).
And the next year, Gracie came…
And then we all took a year off before lil Allan came along.
Clara…
Martha…
Brody…
Like I said, it’s been an eventful decade.
And my mom has been, in every way, a fabulous grandma to these kiddos. They ALL adore her, just as Samuel did from the first moment he met her.
(Can you believe she made Christmas pajamas for ALL EIGHT kids this last year? And aren’t they adorable?)
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About an hour ago this morning, my mother left to head home after being with us for two weeks. She came to town because I was a bit overwhelmed (understatement) with business, with “end of summer-start of school”, and life in general. I’m 90% caught up, now that she’s been here for two weeks, and my kids are thoroughly “Mema-spoiled”. I’m not sure what we’ll all do without her. Martha already wants me to carry her on my back (Yes, my mother has been carrying Martha around on her back for two weeks. I’m telling you, she spoils these kids).
In two weeks time, she has managed to squeeze in the following:
– cooked all the meals (minus maybe two or three)
– washed all the dishes for those meals
– helped completely potty train Martha
– decluttered my kitchen, my living room, Martha’s dressers and closet, the boys’ room/dresser/closet, the bathroom, and even a small portion of the garage
– helped me get ready for a yard sale
– managed said yard sale almost all by herself, since it was H.O.T. and I get sick when I get hot.
– made cookies, cupcakes, bread, and a few other goodies (besides all the meals)
– sewed TWO laptop bags (one for me and one for Samuel), altered some onesies into tops for Martha, cut off some pants into shorts for Samuel, made a cute “epi-pen” bag for Martha’s epi-pens
– played board games, did “school work” with Martha and Allan, built a paper pyramid, created bead jewelry, watched movies, read books, crawled on the floor, played hide and seek, played outside (in the HEAT), carried Martha around on her back (did I mention that fact already – it bears repeating!), took us to lunch, took us to Walmart (numerous times), and took us to the Natural History Museum (the highlight of Samuel’s week).
I know I’m forgetting about 50 things…
My mother totally rocks this Mema thing. Totally. 100%.
And she loves every moment of it.
(Well, ALMOST every moment – I think she could have skipped the “tarantula and scorpion” moments at the Natural History Museum).
Mom, thanks for EVERYTHING you do. We love you and we (already) miss you!
P.S. The kids want to know: 1) when you are coming back, and 2) when their package with the butterfly costumes will arrive.
If you’d like to write about your Mom/Nana/Grandma/Mema for “Nana of the Week”, we’d love to hear from you – just send an email to nhadmin@nanahood.com.
Cheryl is Mema to 3 of my grandchildren and she is a dear friend and sister in Christ to me. Last year, when party time came in Gracie’s kindergarten class, she always wanted to take the “I Spy Quilt” her Mema had made. It was a big hit with all the kids and the teacher loved it too! Cheryl loves fun and games but her greatest love is to see her children and grandchildren growing in the Lord. She shows them by example how to use their talents and make good choices for a healthy, godly life. You truly are a blessing in our lives. So happy to see you honored as “Mema of the Week”!!
Mema has a special place in 3 little hearts in Nebraska! Even though we only get to see Mema once or twice a year, the quality time that is shared is long-lasting and never far from our memories. Mema is known for her great story-telling and teaching the kids new songs. She is always eager to share her love for God through those stories and songs. Young or old (kind of:), we all look up to her as a woman of faith! There is something very comforting about the special quilts that our girls sleep with everynight. I think we have something handmade from Mema in every room in our house! We are so blessed to Mema in our lives!
Yes, Mema is awesome. We also couldn’t have done without her so many times. She loves Austin and Hailey and keeps up with them very well since they are the oldest grandkids. She has cheered on my kids at gynastics, soccer, choir, and softball. She and Papa have come to almost all of my kids’ activities for years now. She also filled in at school last year for both kids when I when I was too sick taking chemo. Thanks for all you do Mema. We love you bunches and bunches.
Charlene, your sweet article made me cry. She IS a good grandma, isn’t she? I’m so glad that you, and all the kids and grandkids, have time with her. She is a very special lady. And I’m glad my friend is on her way home!
Alaska, here we come.
Great pix, by the way.
Claudine