Snuggle up with Nanny

This past weekend felt like one of those chapters in life you want to bookmark and reread forever. It was a jam-packed, joy-filled blur of family, grandkids, hard work, and pure love. It’s the kind of time that makes you grateful to be a senior with energy (mostly) left in the tank. And grandkids who still want to spend nights at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Let me tell you about it.

It all kicked off Friday afternoon at our sons’ and daughters-in-law’s soon-to-open Skyzone family entertainment center. What a project! The whole crew—our boys, their wives, and us “volunteer elders”—pitched in to assemble chairs, benches, employee badges, bags, and whatever else needed doing to get the place ready for its big debut. We worked until late. Muscles ached, and our backs protested. But when we finally called it a night, it was that good kind of tired. The satisfying exhaustion that comes from building something together as a family.

As we headed out the door, our 10-year-old grandson, Josh, didn’t ask; he announced with all the confidence of a kid who knows he’s loved: “I’m spending the night at your house.” Our hearts swelled. Of course, he was welcome!

Then, Saturday morning, while Josh was still snoozing, I slipped over to Publix to order a Happy Birthday cake for his Nanny—my wonderful wife. She was celebrating a birthday north of her “diamond” but south of her “oak jubilee.” No spoilers on the exact number. Let’s just say she’s timeless and sparkling. Back home, Josh “ordered” his favorite breakfast: thin Swedish pancakes drenched in real maple syrup. His uncle Max and I didn’t need convincing to join the feast. We savored every sticky bite, laughing and planning the day ahead.

Then it was back to Skyzone for round two of assembly work. Lunchtime brought the best surprise. We had an impromptu pizza-and-birthday-cake party right there amid the half-built fun. The grandkids belted out “Happy Birthday, Nanny!” at the top of their lungs. There were no candles—I forgot them. Honestly, they wouldn’t have fit on the cake anyway! But the love was brighter than any flame. What a moment—surrounded by family, in the middle of what will soon be a place full of kids’ laughter.

Saturday night, as we wrapped up at Skyzone, our 9-year-old granddaughter, Clara, piped up: “Can I spend the night too?”  With her brother already having spent Friday night, how could we say no? Another night of grandkid giggles and stories under our roof. Sunday morning, Clara wanted to watch TV first thing, but I told her to go snuggle into bed with her Nanny while I whipped up an “Egg McMuffin” breakfast—nothing fancy, just warm and made with love.

She came to church with us, where we filled half a pew (still pews to us seniors) with uncles, aunts, and cousins. The service felt extra full of gratitude and voices raised together.

After church, we headed home for char-grilled steaks from the cattle we had raised on our own farm. Juicy, flavorful, and shared around the table with everyone. Then came the perfect capstone: an after-dinner nap with Clara snuggled right between her Nanny and me on queen sized bed. In that moment, I said to myself, “It truly doesn’t get any better this side of heaven.”      

Looking back on this whirlwind weekend, the moral is simple. When your grandkids ask—or, better yet, tell you—they’re coming over to spend the night, just say “Yes.” Don’t worry about the extra laundry, the scattered toys, or the mess that’ll need cleaning up later. Those fingerprints on the windows and crumbs under the table are temporary. The memories? They last forever.  

If you’re lucky enough to have grandkids nearby, cherish every “I’m staying over” announcement. They grow up too fast. The joy they bring only gets richer with time.

Thanks for reading All About Seniors. See you next week!

Bill Milby is a Director of Visiting Angels® of Central Georgia, a non-medical, living assistance service for seniors. If you have questions or comments about this column, you can reach him at william.mercylink@gmail.com or search for us at  facebook.com/VisitingAngelsofCentralGA