A Woman’s Work
The Secret Lives of Grandmothers It’s Not Just Baking Cookies Anymore By Sharon Knierim
From all appearances, the traditional role of “Grandma” has been altered beyond recognition. Those of us who have been around long enough remember sweet little grannies baking cookies, tending to grandchildren, and crocheting doilies. It was fun to always know just where Granny was and what she was doing. In a word, she was simply “caring” for her progeny. Her children and their offspring were her highest priority. Why did Granny work so hard for other people? It’s a tradition that she knew and understood because, most likely, her own grandmother took great care to make her life more comfortable. In the not too distant past, families were often multigenerational under one roof, much like we are now experiencing again. Nobody forced or paid Granny for the child care, or the laundry and ironing, or the baking she provided for the family. Instead, it was just a given that Granny would always be at home and be reliable. Grandmas from a long time ago were typically assigned their duties as a matter of necessity and circumstances. At one time, Grandma was often left alone after the passing on of her husband. No huge and sustaining retirement plans were available for most women, and benefits such as Social Security
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had not yet come into use. Sometimes, Granny was left with a business or farm to sustain her economic needs, but Granny’s health and safety were another issue. Many grandmothers moved in with the kids so they could look after her welfare. For economic purposes, Granny often found herself living with grown children and their families or other welcoming relatives. The combination of Granny, her child and spouse, and a houseful of children usually worked pretty well. The family dynamics were certainly changed, but very often, this was for the better. Not many people thought it was odd to have this older person living in the home, and fewer complained about the inconvenience of the situation. One of my grannies lived with us in our home. Was it difficult? Yes, it was. Our mother probably experienced the worst of it, as she tried to reconcile
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April 2021
11/6/20 2:09 PM
