Grandma, You Rock!: And Other Great Stories for the Young at Heart

By Karen O'Connor

From the bestselling author of Gettin’ Old Ain’t for Wimps (more than 300,000 copies sold) comes a funny, heartwarming look at being a grandma. More than 80 stories based on real-life experiences express the wonderfully humorous joy of interacting with grandkids.

Karen O’Connor, grandmother of 14, says, “Grandkids keep us youthful, humble, and wide-awake! They also keep us praying!” Each two- to three-page story ends with an encouraging Scripture and a brief prayer thanking God for the gift of grandchildren. A wonderful celebration of grandmas everywhere!

Rerelease of Bein’ a Grandparent Ain’t for Wimps.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
• Release date: Aug 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780736948951

Karen O'Connor

Karen O’Connor is a sought-after speaker, a writing consultant, and an award-winning author of more than 75 books, including Gettin’ Old Ain’t for Wimps (more than 500,000 copies sold). She’s appeared on national media, including The 700 Club and 100 Huntley Street.

Book preview

O’Connor

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Grandma, You Rock!

Lucy was thrilled to hear that her grandson Vic’s wife, Vanessa, was pregnant. Lucy and her husband, Jim, were going to be great-grandparents! Unfortunately the grandkids lived in England, where Vic held a teaching position at Cambridge University. Lucy hoped one day she and Jim would be able to visit and meet their new great-grandson. In the meantime they would communicate with the family via e-mail and telephone and trade photos through the Internet.

Four years later Lucy and Jim were finally making it to England. Lucy could hardly wait to see her great-grandson. She’d heard so much about Peter from her grandkids and kids. Lucy and Jim arrived at the airport and were whisked off to their grandson’s home. While driving, their grandson, Vic, briefed them on what to expect. He turned to Lucy and Jim, smiled, and raised his brows in a playful way. Be on your best behavior, he joked.

This time Lucy raised her brows! What kind of a greeting was this? She knew her grandson’s sense of humor though, so she knew he was going to make a point.

And he did.

"When I told Peter that you and Grandpa—my grandparents—were his great-grandparents, he asked matter-of-factly, ‘What’s so great about them?’ I guess it’s up to you to show him!"

After their visit, when they arrived back home in the States, Lucy reported great-grandson Peter’s parting words: "Grandma, you rock! Can you come again?"

Reflection

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9).

Thank you so much, Lord, for my family and giving me the capacity to love.

I Lost It!

Gloria invited her three-and-a-half-year-old grandson to spend Wednesday at her house. They would play a game of Candy Land, go to the grocery store, watch Sprouts on TV, go for a walk with the dog, and rest in the hammock in the yard. And if there was any time left they’d do a little gardening. Tony liked to plant flowers and help his grandma pick weeds.

On Wednesday morning Gloria drove to Tony’s house and picked him up. She noticed a change in him since the last time they were together. He hung his head and frowned. He was very quiet in the car and spoke only when Gloria asked him a question.

What’s going on? she finally asked. Gloria pulled up to a stoplight and turned to the boy in the backseat. We’re going to have fun today! I’m excited about spending the time together. How about you? She then listed all the activities she’d planned.

Tony remained quiet and moody.

Gloria let out a deep breath. Something was clearly bothering him, but he wouldn’t say what it was. She decided to go ahead with their day and see what occurred. She pulled into her driveway and opened the backdoor to help Tony out of the car seat.

He pushed her away and started screaming, I don’t want to go!

Gloria didn’t know what to do. She stepped back and told Tony to unbuckle his own seat belt. She’d wait for him on the front porch.

Tony kicked and screamed so loud that Gloria finally closed the car door so the neighbors wouldn’t come running to see what was going on. She waited and waited. About ten minutes later the door opened, and Tony popped out of the car. He wasn’t smiling, but he wasn’t screaming either.

He trudged up the steps. Gloria got up and they walked into the house. Grandma Gloria pulled out a bottle of orange juice from the fridge. Want some?

Okay. Tony looked down.

Gloria could tell he was embarrassed about his behavior.

Sorry, he said, hunching his shoulders.

It’s all right. I forgive you. What happened?

Laurie broke my airplane.

I see. Well, that hurts. Did she say she was sorry?

Yeah.

Did you forgive her?

Yes, but I’m still mad.

I understand. It sounds as if you lost your temper. Maybe you’d better get it back so we can have a fun day. What do you think?

Tony brightened and then ran out of the house.

Gloria followed him out to the car. What are you doing? she asked.

Looking for my temper. I think I lost it when you were driving.

Reflection

Be patient and stand firm (James 5:8).

Lord, if I ever lose sight of you and your teachings, please reel me in! I never want to be far from you. And help me share the joy of your presence with my grandchildren.

Two Scoops Too Many

Lorna took her 7-year-old granddaughter and 11-year-old grandson out for ice cream at a genuine, old-fashioned ice cream parlor on the last evening of their visit with her during summer vacation. Heather’s eyes sparkled at the long row of flavors behind the glass shield that stretched from one end of the shop to the other. She paced back and forth, choosing and unchoosing one flavor after another.

Grammy, I can’t make up my mind. What should I pick?

You can have two or even three scoops if you want—and you can have a topping too. Your choice. No limit! Grammy Lorna held up her wallet. My treat. Tomorrow it’s back to normal, so enjoy it while you can.

Wally, being more mature and more practical by nature, shook his head. Heather, keep it simple. One scoop and one topping or you might get sick. He was reminding her of a time when she couldn’t keep her ice cream down.

Heather waved him off. I’m bigger now, she stated.

Grammy bit her tongue. She wanted to allow Heather to make up her own mind. As the youngest child in her family, she already had enough bosses.

Finally Heather settled on her choices: chocolate chip mint and butterscotch peanut brittle with candy sparkles and gum drops. A half hour later Heather looked a bit pale as she struggled to finish her creation. She turned to her brother and grandmother.

You were right, Wally. Next time I’ll keep it simple. I’ll get one scoop of plain vanilla. She looked at her grandmother with big, sad eyes. I’m sorry, Grammy. I think I wasted your money.

Not at all, honey. Sometimes choosing is more fun than eating. You don’t have to finish.

Heather heaved a big sigh of relief, wiped her mouth, and gave her grandmother—and her brother—a big hug. And then she asked if they could go home so she could take a nap.

Reflection

You will have plenty to eat, until you are full (Joel 2:26).

Lord, too often I feel I know best so I take on or take in more than I need or should have. Help me see what you want me to have and not have. Help me choose wisely.

Don’t Toy with Me

Judy planned a special day with her grandson Mitch to celebrate his victory on his Little League team. She made arrangements to take him to the Train Museum and then to lunch at his favorite spot, Corvette Diner.

On the morning of the day she was supposed to pick him up her car broke down, and she had to have it towed to a nearby repair shop. She took a loaner car for the day but didn’t want to drive too far—all the way to the museum and diner—in the unfamiliar vehicle. She was disappointed and knew her six-year-old grandson would be too. When she arrived at Mitch’s house, she told him they weren’t going to go but she’d choose another day for the celebration. She could see Mitch had set his heart on going that day.

To help soften the blow, Judy took Mitch to a local toy store and let him purchase anything he wanted…within reason, of course. He chose an accessory to go with his growing train set. That helped allay his sadness, and he went home happy and content.

The following day Mitch again spent a few hours with his grandmother while his mother ran errands. As they drove through town in the loaner car, Mitch spoke up. Grandma, can we get another toy today?

No, honey, not today. I just bought you one yesterday.

A few minutes later, Mitch asked again. Grandma, can we get another toy today?

Mitch, I already answered that question. No, not today. I bought you a toy yesterday. She increased her volume—hoping to make her point once and for all.

Mitch was not easily intimidated. About ten minutes later Judy heard her grandson’s sweet voice coming from the backseat.

Hey, Grandma… followed by a long pause. I’m going to give you just one more chance. He raised his voice this time. Can we get another toy today?

This boy knew how to persevere.

But so did Judy!

Who won?

Grandma Judy! No, we didn’t buy another toy, she later reported, but we did get to the museum and to the diner the following week.

Reflection

Let your Yes be yes, and your No, no (James 5:12).

Lord, this sounds familiar. I find myself begging you for something you’ve clearly shown me isn’t wise. Please help me accept what you say the first time.

Forget Me Not

Geneva and her husband, Eli, were enjoying a much-needed, three-month furlough from their missionary work in Morocco. At the end of their leave they would return to Africa to complete their term. Geneva knew their granddaughter Janice might not remember them when they came home for good in two years. She was only three, and so much could happen in that much time.

Geneva considered how to help Janice keep their faces in her mind. I want her to run up to us with open arms when we come back, she said. What could she and Eli do to make sure that happened and to create memories that would last? Geneva decided to keep her digital camera on her at all times to snap a myriad of photos of their times together so Janice’s mother, Beverly, could show them to Janice and tell stories about her special times with Grandma and Grandpa.

Janice loved books so Geneva put the pictures in a notebook with captions under each one: Janice and Grandma baking cookies. Janice and Grandpa riding bikes. Janice ‘reading’ a story to Grandma and Grandpa. Janice and Grandma on the merry-go-round.

Geneva completed A Book for Janice and