By Betsy Moore 
As a mom of two middle school daughters, I can only dream of one day becoming a grandma. This potential reality seems to be so far away, yet time is fleeting, more and more so every passing year. My grandparenting era could be closer than I desire. As one part of me dreads getting older another part of me aches for gray hair, wrinkles, knowledge, wisdom, and holding sweet babies my girls created. What will my grandkids call me? What will my grandma name be? What will my husband’s grandpa name be? I don’t care what they call me. I just pray they call.
Just like my mom was present for both of my girls’ births, I pray I get that same experience. I begged my husband to stay with me during delivery so my own mother was the first to hold both of our girls in the delivery room at the hospital. I pray that my girls ask me to be a part of it. I pray that I can handle seeing my daughters in so much pain, agony, and sheer love. I pray that I am around when my girls become mothers.
My daughters have one set of grandparents who live eight houses down the street and another set of grandparents who are recently deceased. No one knows what kind of grandparent we each will be. No one knows where life will take each of us. Even with the best-laid plans for later in life and for retirement, cancer and dementia and Parkinson’s and other nasty things can viciously take over, and the grandparent life that was wished for looks drastically different. I pray that my future grandkids know that whatever happens, they are loved beyond measure on earth and from Heaven.
I pray that my daughters live close to me when they are raising their own families. I pray they spread their wings and travel and move away from our little town and be their own person and not worry about their dad and I. Yes, I want it all for them. I want them to have all the experiences I have had through the years as well as ones I have never been blessed with or brave enough to try. Wherever they live, I promise I will travel and see them as much as I possibly can. I don’t want to miss the little moments or the big ones or any in-between. I pray they want me to be involved.
I am sure my grandkids will be busy with school and sports, and social drama will take over their precious teenage time. However, I pray they want to call me and tell me about their day and vent and even ask me for an extra $100 for the cool water bottle that is in style for the moment. I pray I can say yes to frivolous purchases and spoil the heck out of them.
My name could be Grammy, Mumzie, or Mia, or maybe even Gym-Ma. Who cares? I could pick out the perfect name years in advance, but if that first grandkid wants to call me Crayon, I am sure I will go with it because that is what awesome grandparents do. They go with it. They take on silly names because nothing else matters as much as grandkid joy and laughter.
I pray my daughters encourage their kids to spend time with me because we all know that moms tend to run the show. I pray my daughters ask me to babysit, to take their kids out for ice cream because they need a date night or a night to sit at home alone and watch Netflix.
I pray my future grandkids see that their grandparents have an awesome marriage. I hope they know it is not perfect, that it takes work and open communication, but they see us hold hands, go on trips to Italy together, and genuinely like to be around each other. I pray that our marriage sets them up with a healthy example of what marriage can look like. I pray they strive to make us proud. I pray that they kind of want to be just like us when they are old.
I pray that my future grandkids respect their parents’ rules but know they can call me when they want to complain. I pray they call me not just when times are tough but sometimes when they want to show off an A on a test or show me a new pair of jeans they just bought. I pray I can always answer their phone calls when they need to talk to me. I pray I always can recognize them and know who they are. I pray I always remember their names when I am 105 years old.
Only one of four of my grandparents was alive for my wedding. Goodness, I pray I get to be around for those big, milestone moments as a grandma. However, I know there is no guarantee. Even if I am only there as a photo beside the wedding cake, dear future grandkids, please know I already love you and forever will even from Heaven.
I pray that texting goes away when I am a grandma. I pray I get to hear my grandkids’ voices in person and not only over a screen. I pray my grandkids don’t watch the news every day. I pray they love to go outside. I pray I get to hear a sweet toddler or maybe many sweet toddlers call me Grandma or Crayon or whatever they want one day many, many days from today. I pray they call me.
by Lauren Eberspacher 
by Laura Hanby Hudgens 
by Vicki Bahr 
