I recently had the chance to host my mother-in-law at my house for three nights and four days. In the 21 years I have been married to her son, Michael, this has never happened. Usually, my father-in-law is with her.
It was so lovely to visit with her alone.
She was laughing and sharing stories about how she met her husband, how she chased him and then let him chase her. It was a completely new experience for both of us. She is getting older and forgetful, but when it comes to memories of her childhood or her family life, she is sharp as a tack. She also worked hard to help me clean and make hot fudge for the holiday season. She got so good she could stir two pots of boiling chocolate at one time!
I think our kids Zoe and Jack enjoyed visiting with their Grandma as well. We went shopping and out to lunch. Her favorite is chicken strips. She had them at least three times during her stay.
The kids got to see the relaxed side of their grandmother for the first time. Usually, she is running around waiting on my father-in-law or worried that she has to make food for all of us. At my house, she just went with the flow. The only downside was she missed her dog, Annie. We have five dogs, two of which are puppies. They kept her entertained by fetching and wrestling and tug of war playtime. She also enjoyed squirting the cats with water if they jumped on the counter. She got a big laugh out of that.
We talked about her favorite recipes. Even though she is German, she lives in a town that celebrates its Scandinavian culture every summer with a vast Nordic Fest. They serve Rommegrot right on the street in small cups topped with butter and cinnamon and sugar! Yum! Plates of Krumkake, crunchy served with powder sugar and Swedish meatballs on a skewer for easy eating. These are all foods I love to eat, so I enjoy the festival very much.
When the time came for Grandma to go home, we were all sad. I know she missed her house, her husband and her dog but it was the best visit we have ever had. So lovely to get to know her better and tell her how much we love her. Not just because she is Grandma but because she is a beautiful, caring person, and I am proud to be her daughter in law.
“Be around people that make you want to be a better person, who make you feel good, make you laugh, and remind you what’s important in life.”
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