Growing up, my mother was very strict. Most especially to me because I am the eldest child. As a matter of fact, I had spent  a lot of time and energy hating my mother. Many a journal pages were devoted to this loathing. Much a time spent contemplating what difference it would have made if I had another mom. Of course, I’ve since had a change of heart. But it didn’t change the fact that my mother was rather a bully, to me and my siblings. But to me most especially. If you noticed, I could not stress that fact enough.

So why then when it comes to my kid is my mother such a marshmallow? She fuses over her like she’s a fragile china. My kid practically has her wrapped around her fingers. My dad is no difference. He is completely smitten by her.

I wish I had grandparents who spoiled me. But then again, my mother would have none of that.

So why does most grandparents spoil their grandchildren?

a. They feel that because the parent role is already taken, they’ll take whatever role is available. Just so that They. Will. Have. A. Role.

b. It’s their way of getting back at us for all the misery we’ve caused them when we were kids.

c. They’re our parents. It’s in their DNA to meddle with our lives and our kids’ lives and our kids’ kids’ lives…

d. As a kid, we never really liked them. Now as grandparents, they are making themselves likable. Because they want to be liked.

e. They feel like they are doing us a favor if they dote on our kids.

f. All of the above.

I Love You, Mom.