Today, my mom is not in the same place in her life as she was when I was a kid, and as a grandparent, she is getting a chance at a do-over. She has learned to parent in a new way with her grandchildren, slowing down and talking to my kids about how they are feeling. This has been healing for both of us. I’ll be honest: when I watch her gentleness, there are moments when the younger version of me grieves over what I didn’t receive.
