Looking back with Lot's Wife

August 23, 2000 I feel as nervous as when I was a new mom trying to figure out which end of the baby to diaper. This is my first babysitting job as a new grandma. There is so much to learn and as Ginger Rogers said – she had to do everything Fred Astaire did and do it backwards. That’s what the role of grandma is. You need to do what the parents want you to do – especially if you were a parent like me whose children barely came out of it alive and actually deserve some sort of survival medal. My daughter-in-law is a lot better parent than me. Back in the old days, I was the parent of that three-year-old running around the concessions stand at the Art City Drive-In at 11 at night in a messy diaper. Still sucking on a binky. Still not potty-trained. I barely got my kids trained for kindergarten—I still thank heaven for those half days. I had thumb suckers and tantrum throwers. We ate candy—they got that first sweet taste of Snickers along with mother’s milk. They ate whole corn and fish ...

August 2, 2000 I received a formal invitation to watch my seven-month-old granddaughter take a first swim. My daughter-in-law knows that I will be as thrilled to do this as if I had been invited to Buckingham Palace for high tea. Visiting from California, she must dole out each precious moment between two Springville grandmas, and this special treat happens to be at the other grandma’s house. I race to finish my morning work so that, if necessary, I will have hours to watch this magical creature perform impossible feats. I don’t take my camera because I don’t want to take pictures now, my first time watching. I’m afraid to spoil this moment. I want to enjoy every second this first time. When I arrive, our princess is decked out in a stretchy pink bathing suit that makes her chubby body look like a “love sausage.” My hand itch to hold her and I’m allowed to carry her outside to the waiting plastic pool filled with warmed water. We all stand around watching, all our attention glued to ba...