Being a Grandmother
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Vivian
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Adrienne
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Adrienne: So, Vivian, you have grandchildren!
Vivian: I have two lovely granddaughters.
Adrienne: Granddaughters! What's it like being a grandma?
Vivian: It is a second chance on life because of when you are raising children as a young person you get caught up in the daily world, but with grandchildren it's all fun. I don't have to do this, or I don't have to do that, and when I get tired I can send them home to their parents.
Adrienne: Right, that's the best part, right? So what else is different about being a mother versus being a grandmother?
Vivian: Being a mother you are totally responsible for your child. You are trying to raise them the best you know how to raise them and you're young and everything that you do you know that will be picked up by your child but when you have grandchildren that duty is up to their parents so I don't feel that I have to really teach them anything. I have to continue the teaching of their parents.
Adrienne: So you get to do all the fun stuff now that you're a grandma?
Vivian: Yes, it really is fun. They take you by the hand, and take you to the store and point out everything in the world that mom and dad will not give them and it really costs you a lot of money sometimes, unless, you do put your foot down and say, ”NO!”
Adrienne: So being a grandma is more expensive that being a parent?
Vivian: Absolutely, but it's a lot more fun because at this stage of life you have a little bit more money than you had when you were raising your child.
Adrienne: I see. That's great.
second chance on life
It is a second chance on life.
When you get a 'second chance on life' it means that you
have the chance to start things a fresh and do the things you didn't do earlier in life.
Notice the following:
- When you move to a new area you get a second chance on
life because nobody knows you.
- I would love to get a second chance on life and get
remarried.
duty
When you have grandchildren that duty is up to their
parents.
Something that is a 'duty' is an obligation or responsibility.
Notice the following:
- It is your duty to pay your taxes.
- I went to the meeting out of duty, but I really did not
want to go.
take you by the hand
They take you by the hand, and take you to the store and
point out everything in the world that mom and dad will not
give them.
When you 'take someone by the hand' you hold their hand and
lead them somewhere. This can mean to literally take
someone's hand or to just give him assistance.
Notice the following:
- I will take you by the hand and show you.
- He said he loves to take me by the hand and walk down by
the lake.
put your foot down
Unless, you do put your foot down and say, ”NO!”.
When you 'put your foot down' make a decision and do not
consider changing your mind. It is your final decision and
you are forceful about it.
Notice the following:
- I think I need to put my foot down and tell him that I
will not be going.
- You need to show them who is boss and put your foot
down.
this stage of life
It's a lot more fun because at this stage of life you have
a little bit more money than you had when you were raising
your child.
This 'stage of life' means at the particular point of life
that somebody is at that time.
Notice the following:
- You need to look after old people as this stage of life
can be quite lonely for them.
- This stage of life is considered to be the best.
foot down • stage
