When my grandson was born, I had to decide what I wanted to be called. Both sets of my grandparents had passed before I got to know them. So, there was no typical grandparent moniker that meant anything to me.
I chose GMa (GEE Ma). It felt fun and lively and active….like G-FORCE. That’s who I am to my grandson. Just GMa.
Being a grandparent comes with a certain level of responsibility, but it also comes with the freedom to be a bit sillier than you were as a parent. We are not as distracted, maybe, or just more eager and overjoyed by the laughter of our grandchildren.
On one particular car ride I was able to convince my grandson that I had a magic super power.
I had engaged the window lock button to prevent the windows from going down from small fingers roaming and by fat paws of Dexter who was also in the backseat.
We pulled into a parking lot to wait for something. I heard from the backseat, “GMa, I can’t get the window down.” I pushed the unlock, turned around and waved my hands at his window, incanting, “Abra cadabraaaaa…..try now”. When the window glided down, he exclaimed, “How did you do that?” I said, “That’s GMa Power.”
He was amazed by this secret power. I was able to dazzle him with it every time we were in the car. Eventually, someone spilled the beans on the lock window button. And it was a sad day when I heard, “GMa, I know there is no secret power.”
And just like that… GMa Power lost a little of its magic.
However, before my cover was blown, I was able to use the GMa power with other things that only worked once. But they were silly enough to make us giggle.
I held up my thumb and forefinger pushed together to create a hole. I said, “GMa can poke her head through this hole.”
“No way, you can’t…..show me”
Taking several deep breaths and stretching my neck dramatically, and saying “Ok, GMa power kick in!”
I lifted the finger circle in front of me, moved it slowly and tilted my head very close to it.
Then I quickly poked my head with the forefinger of my other hand – right through the hole.
I had another opportunity to convince him of my special power when we were out for a walk. I think we were talking about magical small people anyway, like fairies and gnomes and how strange it would be to be that little.
I stopped. “I can use my GMa power to make you fit between my fingers.” He was still a believer at that time. And he asked, “Can you make me big again, too.”
After I assured him that I could, he agreed to be made smaller. That sweet trust brought tears to my eyes.
I asked him to walk away from me until I said stop and then turn around.
I waved my arms at him with more incantations and asked him to close his eyes and wait a moment. Then I lifted my left hand and opened my thumb and forefinger and moved it so his body from that distance fit into that space. I then quickly fished my phone out of my pocket with my right hand and snapped a photo before he could see. I scurried up to him and told him he could open his eyes. Then I showed him the photo of him fitting between my fingers.
‘GMa!!!!” And then he laughed. “Your GMa power is silly.”
I think that might be the last time he totally believed that I had magical power.
But it gave us something to laugh about… something to share.
And maybe, just maybe…
a few memories that will feel a little bit magical for a long time.