Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (as told to me) Story

Genre: Nonfiction

This story is really moving and told beautifully. I laughed, I cried. What I particularly liked is that Kalb gets to the heart of her grandmother because she knows her so well. With a tough exterior, no-nonsense, no coddling sort of a woman, Bobby's strength as a grandmother came from the consistency with which she was present in her granddaughter's life and her unwavering devotion to her "angel". When you have such consistency as a grandmother, you can develop special traditions with your granddaughter (like going to the Plaza Hotel to have tea for your birthday). You can tell her that you don't like her lipstick color; or that her heels are too high because she knows that your love for her surpasses it all.

It's the first time, after finishing this book, that I thought about my children (particularly my 13 year old son) as parents and me as a grandmother. It's strange to think that there will be a time (dear God, I hope so!) that my boy will produce his own boy or girl and that I will be a grandmother to them. I got a little teary thinking about the kind of grandmother I want to be. Mostly, I hope to be all the things that I couldn't be as a mother because I was either worrying about my boys so much that I was blinded by that worry or too busy loving them and being blinded by that love. But, while walking my dogs and listening to the audio of this book (Kalb herself narrates and does an amazing job), I came up with this list of what I will be as a grandmother: I will always be there. When she takes her first steps. When she falls. When he smears himself with frosting from his birthday cake. When he sings on stage for the first time and is off key for half the song. When she has a fight with her best friend. When she wants to say goodnight, even if over the phone. I will be there. That's what matters. I will likely say all the wrong things, but my hugs will be fierce, my laughter deep and my pride and love, immeasurable.

I highly recommend this book for an enjoyable and uplifting read. Enjoy!