I was a late '60's-early '70's mom. You know, the love and peace thing. I thought I was pretty hip on child rearing when Gia was born, not "old school" like my mom (Grandma Wilson). But having my first grandchild when I'm 54 (technically, I was 53 when Gia was born), is showing me I'm more old school, antique, out-of-date, square,whatever you want to call it, than I thought.

It started when Shari announced she and Bryan had a doula. I said, "A what?"

Shari said, "A doula, birthing coach. I'm also thinking about giving birth in water."

"In water?" I replied. Now, they may have done something like that back in my birthing days, but Shari's older sister, Debbi, was born in a hospital bed, but only after I had done enough screaming to convince the doctor I needed some drugs.

Unfortunately, Little Gia Girl being as stubborn as her mama, wanted to keep growing, tucked up -- more like stuck -- in Mom's warm tummy, and Shari delivered her by Caesarean. I reminded Shari, that she also gave me a trouble when she was bornwhen I had to have an emergency C-section, so turn about was fair play. Thankfully, Darby the doula -- whom I later found out also attended the Shawnee wedding of our friends, authors James Alexander Thom and his wife, Dark Rain, when she was a young girl -- was there with Shari and Bryan through the whole operation and continues to help Shari whenever she has a question concerning Gia.

As I continue to take my steps through Grandmahood, I'm finding out that I'm more "Grandma Wilson old school" than I thought. For instance, when I changed Gia for the first time, and later went to tuck her in bed under a soft receiving blanket, I heard, "Mom, I don't use baby powder, just wipes, and you don't put a blanket over a baby to avoid the chance of smothering." I've now learned that blankets may be acceptable in a crib once a baby learns to turn over. Gia's nutrition came through nursing until she reached 5 months,but now includes veggies and fruitsthat are steamed, then pureed. I also got scolded when Igave her a taste of the jelly in a doughnut.

When Shari asked me if I wanted to go to baby sign language class, I decided that like my computer, I neededan update, agrandparenting update. Shari wants Gia tolearn a second language and feels American Sign Language would be beneficial for her even as an infant. My 43-year-old sister agrees. Now the mother of a toddler,Felicia taught my nephew basic signs so he could communicate with her before hebegan talking clearly. Others say that learning basic signs can ward off temper tantrums.

So off I went to The Blue Manatee in Oakley where instructor Sharon Said teaches American Sign Language to Moms and Babes on Tuesday mornings. I have to admit, it makes sense. Not only do the babies and moms learn to communicate the silent way, they also have some bonding time signing and singing songs, reading stories, and playing with balls and parachutes.

I evenlearned a few signs. One I think is the most important. The sign for Grandma.

By Sharon Brumagem
http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060126/EDIT/601260341/1078/Local