I’ve always been the cool grandma. The kind who’s always moving, never sitting still, and certainly never thinking, “Maybe I’m too old for this.”
My plan? Live to a hundred and still outpace half the people in my neighborhood.
Why not? I still had so many ideas for this world!
You could spot me at puppy yoga, laughing with college girls, or skating at the park with twenty-something guys who tried to keep up. I even learned Japanese just so I could read the writing on my grandson’s T-shirt.
My young friends thought I was fascinating.
“Clementina, pizza tomorrow—you in?”
“Of course I am!”“Surf competition this weekend.”
“I just bought a new swimsuit—count me in!”
That’s how life went for me—always invited, always keeping up with the times.
But my greatest joy? My grandson, Jason. No matter how busy I was, I made time for him. Kelly, my daughter-in-law, happily handed him over whenever she could.
“Clementina, could you take Jason for a few hours? I have… stuff.”
Her “stuff” happened nearly every day. I never said no, because Jason ran into my arms like it was the best part of his week.
“Grandma!”
That one word fueled me.
And Kelly? Oh, she took advantage of it.
“You’ll put Jason to bed, right? I’m staying out with the girls.”
“Your soup was so good last time—Jason won’t eat anything else now.”
“Unexpected manicure appointment tomorrow. Can you grab Jason early?”
Sometimes I wondered if my son, Jack, even noticed. He worked all the time, came home to a happy child and a clean house, thinking his wife was doing it all. Only Kelly and I knew the truth.
When I started taking Jason for school breaks, Jack began sending me more money.
“Mom, you’re doing so much. You should have everything you need.”
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t try to buy my love,” I’d say, though the extra cash was nice.
Kelly hated it.
“Really, Jack? Five hundred dollars for ice cream and a walk in the park? Meanwhile, I’ve been waiting two months for a hair straightener!”
Jack would sigh. Kelly would glare at me like she was studying me. And once, I overheard her on the phone:
“If he keeps sending her that much, I’ll never get the…”
I didn’t hear the end. But I smiled anyway and decided to keep my focus on my own joy. So during one of their tense “money talks,” I announced my big news.
“Kids, my 80th birthday is coming up! I’m inviting everyone to a big celebration—a picnic in the park!”
Kelly rolled her eyes.
“A picnic? At eighty? You should’ve booked a restaurant. Jack gives you so much money…”
“Darling, no restaurant could fit this crowd. Everyone I know is coming.”
Jack hugged me.
“Mom, we’ll definitely be there!”
I didn’t know my celebration would turn into a family showdown.
The big day came. Balloons swayed in the breeze, grills sizzled, and the air smelled like summer. Jason bounded toward me.
“I got you a present, Grandma!”
I pretended not to notice the big box Jack carried. Inside— a bright pink scooter with sparkly handles.
“So now we can ride together!”
We laughed, and Jason begged me to try it right then. I hopped on, and we zipped to the ice cream cart. I ordered a strawberry swirl, turned to hand it to Jason—
And he was gone.
“Jason?”
I spun around, panic rising. Nothing.
“Jason!”
I grabbed the scooter, heart pounding, and zoomed down the path, calling his name. My eighty-year-old knees burned, but I didn’t care.
I reached the picnic spot, breathless.
“Jason’s missing!”
Jack dropped the barbecue tongs.
“What? Mom, what happened?”
Before I could explain, Kelly snapped:
“I told you this would happen! She can’t handle it anymore!”
I ignored her and searched—until a giggle came from under the drink cooler blanket. Jason.
I knelt, shaking.
“Jason, that was dangerous! You never run off like that!”
He pouted, and everyone stared. Kelly stepped forward.
“You just need to rest. You’ve taken on too much.”
“I’m not tired! My life is just getting started!”
Then came the blow.
Kelly smiled sweetly.
“Oh no, Jason. You’ll be staying with the nanny this summer. She’s young. Energetic. Certified.”
My heart sank.
“But… why?”
“Let’s face it, Clementina—you’re too old to babysit. And as we saw today, you just can’t keep up.”
I tried to defend myself—until Jason spoke up.
“But Mom, you told me to hide from Grandma!”
The truth landed like a stone. Kelly had set me up.
I didn’t argue. I got on my scooter and left my own party. I wasn’t going home to cry. I was going home to plan.
Step one: Find the nanny.
I saw her on Kelly’s Instagram—@nanny.nina. I messaged her that night.
“Hi dear, I’m Jason’s grandmother. Let’s have coffee.”
We met the next day. She was polite, young, and clearly unsure about Kelly.
“Honey, I don’t want to test you. I want to pay you. A full month’s salary to cancel. No strings. Just enjoy your summer.”
She blinked.
“Really? Honestly… thank you. She sent me a spreadsheet for microwaving peas. I thought it was weird.”
Step two: Wait for the perfect moment.
The day of Jack and Kelly’s flight, the nanny “cancelled.” Kelly was furious.
“You planned this.”
“That’s a shame,” I said, sipping my tea.
Jack looked helpless.
“What do we do now?”
Kelly muttered,
“We leave Jason with her, I guess.”
I opened my arms.
“Jason! We’re going to have the best summer ever!”
And we did. We baked pies, visited the science museum, invented “Scooter Rodeo,” and sent Jack pictures every day.
Three weeks later, when they came home, Kelly muttered:
“Thanks, Clementina. We appreciate the help.”
Jack stopped her.
“Kelly, you should be more grateful than that. Mom’s been doing all of this for years.”
Finally, he saw it.
But I didn’t need the credit. Jason was already calling from the porch.
“Come on, Grandma! Ice cream’s waiting!”
And that’s how my summer—my victory—ended. With two spoons, a tub of rocky road, and the best kid in the world.