Jezebel 
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New York, 6:18 AM
Thu Dec 3
63 posts in the last 24 hours
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08/26/09
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The dog had been my fathers, and my father's name is Lou...too many eerie connections!
I am not really a "dog" person (probably somehow psychologically connected to the aforementioned incident), but this is a sad, sad story.
08/26/09
Good. Rather than prevent people from seeing it and hyping it up, go see it yourself and take him to task during the Q&A.
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03/05/09
My maternal grandparents were the money ones- big gifts, cash for minor holidays, that sort of thing. Less babysitting, but I don't think it was their thing, even though they lived closest. My grandfather passed seven and a half years ago. I don't really remember him anymore. And sadly, because they were the grandparents with money, we get a little angry at my grandmother these days. My cousin, who is five years older than me and was therefore about to enter college when my grandfather died, had enough money in his college fund from Pop-Pop to cover four years in a private university. I'm a sophomore, and my fund is gone. My brother has even less. Grandma stopped contributing to the funds, because she just didn't think of it. I love her- but sometimes I wish she'd help pay for college instead of buying me big presents.
My dad's dad was a little more distant than the other grandparents, but I would spend weekends at his and Nana's apartment. They had the fun computer games, good toys, and loved having me stay the night. But he and my dad had this huge fight, and they went many years without talking. I speak to him far less these days- they retired to Florida, that's how it goes.
My favorite grandmother is coming to see me in the Vagina Monologues- she gets to Boston with my mom tomorrow. She's my dad's mom, and her husband passed when I was eight, I don't really remember him. But she's amazing- takes us camping, takes me to the theater, does everything with me. She taught me how to crochet, she taught me how to sew, she encourages me in everything I do. She is the most amazing woman, and was always so involved in all of her grandchildren's lives, and I'm so grateful for her.
03/05/09
03/05/09
Also, as someone else mentioned, the interest level of your grandparents can wax and wane over your life. My grandmother right now could not be less interested. But boy, if I were to get knocked up, she'd have to be restrained from moving in with me!
03/05/09
03/05/09
i know plenty of women who want to move closer to home to have the built-in childcare that comes with living near grandma and grandpa, but what if grandma/grandpa gets ill and the other is too busy taking care of their ill spouse to be your built-in childcare?
life happens when you're making other plans, folks.
03/05/09
03/05/09
03/05/09
Caring for children isn't supposed to be dues paying, it is supposed to be part of being a family that helps each other. That means being willing to help out when the new mom needs a day off and being willing to help out when your 80 year old mother breaks her hip and needs help. Supportive families benefit everyone.
03/05/09
I complained about my mom upthread, but not because she doesn't help, rather because what she thinks is helpful is not what I really need. Not a huge deal, just annoying. But if she didn't come over at all, when she knows we are struggling to balance childcare with my extremely demanding job, yeah, I would be really hurt.
03/05/09
Now, if I was freaking out and trying to nurse and my mom was sitting there, I'd probably be furious if she excused herself to make a drink, but it ISN'T her child, and WOULDN'T be her responsibility.
That said, it's nice to hear of a broad spectrum of grandparental involvement. Breaks from the "everybody loves babies" hegemony that the world has been attempting to impose on my child-free life for YEARS.
03/05/09