Grannies Go Nuts, Too
A Voice For the Speechless
Hip Grannies: Michael Willis
Where have all the
Grannies gone?
Oh, I know we're out there, visibly, in fairly great numbers. I can see that while
waiting at school for the grandchildren to come belching out of their confinement
and into the waiting arms of their (what do we have here? My gosh, it's quite a
number of) Grannies.
We ARE there - physically, mentally, and lovingly! But, oh my goodness, where
have our voices disappeared to?
The sound still comes out, the meaning is usually gently put - but clear. So why,
when we inform them that there's something else on the agenda, do these children
rush past us, unhearing, to con another Granny into hosting a play date?
Oops - your Granny voice is warming the cool winter air - but nobody's hearing it
- especially not your - here we go again - grandchild.
They're yelling, pouting, stomping with arms crossed, in an amazing effort to let you
know you are extremely disliked at this moment.
You know you get to have a play date pretty much whenever you want. Your friends come to your house - Granny
drives them there - or you go to friends' houses - Granny picks you up at the agreed hour.
We also take you to brownies, soccer, swimming, library, drama, baseball. We make you meals, take you out for meals, play games with
you, encourage you, support you, keep you safe, LOVE you!
But when we ask you to help just a little - "how about helping dad out by
bringing up one of those empty garbage cans"; or "Granny's got lots of
groceries in the trunk - will you please give me a hand by carrying the bag
of apples": or "dad will be home soon, would you mind setting the table for
dinner; or "will you empty your school pack please", or, the most difficult
of requests, "you've been watching TV for an hour so please turn it off
now"....
W O W - if we Grannies haven't already shrunk right into the woodwork - we
will NOW.
We get an "I don't want to", with arms-crossed and a serious frown
(at best) or fierce stomping directly into their very own private room and a slammed
door.
Hey - I just asked for a little help! Oh, but I forgot - we Grannies are
invisible, undeserving of respect, not to be heard from. We're just GONE.
Oh, I know we're out there, visibly, in fairly great numbers. I can see that while
waiting at school for the grandchildren to come belching out of their confinement
and into the waiting arms of their (what do we have here? My gosh, it's quite a
number of) Grannies.
We ARE there - physically, mentally, and lovingly! But, oh my goodness, where
have our voices disappeared to?
The sound still comes out, the meaning is usually gently put - but clear. So why,
when we inform them that there's something else on the agenda, do these children
rush past us, unhearing, to con another Granny into hosting a play date?
Oops - your Granny voice is warming the cool winter air - but nobody's hearing it
- especially not your - here we go again - grandchild.
They're yelling, pouting, stomping with arms crossed, in an amazing effort to let you
know you are extremely disliked at this moment.
You know you get to have a play date pretty much whenever you want. Your friends come to your house - Granny
drives them there - or you go to friends' houses - Granny picks you up at the agreed hour.
We also take you to brownies, soccer, swimming, library, drama, baseball. We make you meals, take you out for meals, play games with
you, encourage you, support you, keep you safe, LOVE you!
But when we ask you to help just a little - "how about helping dad out by
bringing up one of those empty garbage cans"; or "Granny's got lots of
groceries in the trunk - will you please give me a hand by carrying the bag
of apples": or "dad will be home soon, would you mind setting the table for
dinner; or "will you empty your school pack please", or, the most difficult
of requests, "you've been watching TV for an hour so please turn it off
now"....
W O W - if we Grannies haven't already shrunk right into the woodwork - we
will NOW.
We get an "I don't want to", with arms-crossed and a serious frown
(at best) or fierce stomping directly into their very own private room and a slammed
door.
Hey - I just asked for a little help! Oh, but I forgot - we Grannies are
invisible, undeserving of respect, not to be heard from. We're just GONE.