For the festive season, my son-in-law and my daughter gave me a present... I opened it, and discovered a very pretty glass Christmas bauble with feathers inside, on which was written in gold letters: "Bébé en route" ("Baby on the way")... I burst into tears and hugged them both.

I burst into tears, hugged them both and couldn't speak. I'm overcome with an immense emotion, an emotion of love. I can't believe it, my baby has a baby inside her. That was yesterday, wasn't it... I was 23... she's 29 now.

I'm surprised that I'm having more fun than I did with my own pregnancies. When you become a grandmother, is it pleasure without the anxiety of responsibility? That must be it...

A few days later, my daughter's father, who I've been divorced from for 18 years, sent me a message: "How does it feel, Grandma?" and I thought it was very sweet, a nod to our joint "creation".

My boyfriend gets carried away with me, imagining the crazy, cuddly moments we're going to share with this child. The future uncles all react with pleasure too... what a wonderful Christmas present! And to think that next year, for the festive season, he'll be there!

I thought I'd be feeling old by now, but I'm not. I'm even more excited about staying young and crazy and dreaming of all the things I'm going to pass on and share with this little bundle of love. "Sophie

Pascale tells me:

"Becoming a grandmother is a wonderful thing. It was a great joy when my daughter told me. I have to say that I was ready to take on this new role. She told me, crying, and I gave her a big hug. Because of Covid, I couldn't go to the maternity ward. Thank goodness for Messenger, which enabled me to experience a few first moments with them. It's really moving to see your own daughter become a mother. I feel like I'm passing on the torch. You have to find your place too: be there without imposing. You have to listen and advise without directing. But it was easy because she was immediately at ease in her role as mother. Meeting Abel was magical. Immediately, gushes of love overwhelmed her. Just like with our own children. And now when he's with me, 100% of my time is devoted to him. As a mum, we can leave all the usual chores to one side. That'll be when he's home. So we make the most of it: I cuddle, I cuddle, I rock. Now that he's a bit older (he's already 7 months old), I play, sing and tell stories whenever I have him close to me. And when he's asleep, I look at him (he's so beautiful, a real marvel). I take this time, which I used to do less with my own children because I had my job and a house to run. It's a new kind of unconditional love!

A new family adventure begins: your child becomes a parent! You're changing status! It's a new stage in your identity. Memories of our grandparents reappear and we identify once again with what they were for us, and with what we want to be. Our duties as educators and authorities will not be the priority, but rather that of having fun, playing and passing on. The aim of these encounters with the child will be to live the moment intensely, because we now know that life is precious and limited in time.

And then there are our own parents, who are also changing generations.

Jacques' opinion:

"My first reaction was one of wonder! How can this be! I'll soon be a 'great-grandfather', in other words an ancestor, as in 'our forefathers'! But you have to temper this immediately, as you know that thanks to advances in medicine and the attention paid to your health (taking a walk, not overdoing it, not smoking or drinking alcohol, regular visits and check-ups with your doctor), you can live longer. Which means that after the "You don't look your age" remarks, it's only natural that the next one should be "The eldest of my grandchildren is going to make me a great-grandfather"!

Over and above these considerations and the congratulations to be given to the young mother-to-be, there's that extra zest for life that gives a boost to optimism and... as we all know: prolongs life! A spiral of happiness! Thank you, Life! " 

Claudine wrote a message to her 88-year-old ex-mother-in-law, telling her that she was thinking of her at this time of announcement, and that she would be a great inspiration. She replied: "I met you when you were 15 and now you're a grandmother. Life is strange, but it's beautiful.

While each testimonial tells us that it's a wonderful moment, tinged with joy and emotion, there are also more difficult moments:

"I don't see my grandson any more because of my daughter-in-law. And then I went back to training and announced a change in my availability. My daughter-in-law was angry with me, and as a result, I'm not allowed to see him, I'm being punished... And that makes me very unhappy. I'd say that the love I have for my child's child is very strong, even though I'm getting older, I could move mountains for him, but now that I can't see him, the pain is multiplied too." Alice

Sometimes people confuse love and relationships, and this bond can also be hurt and abused. Even though it may be difficult to take this step, the law does provide a way: Article 375bis, which allows grandparents to claim visiting rights with their grandchildren if the parents refuse. Obviously, this does not always bring peace to family relationships, but for these people deprived of a bond, there is at least the possibility of ensuring the existence of this very special relationship, which is so important in the development of this little being.

Sophie Mercier