My 3rd Act - November 2026
Grandparenthood in the Third Act
November 2026 Issue
By Melinda Rooney
What do they say about being a grandparent?
Something about wishing you’d had your grandchildren first?
Bob and I became grandparents just before we began our “Third Act” and made our move to the Lowcountry. Leaving our children and, at the time, our one grandchild was the only thing that made us hesitate. But we knew we’d be just a few hours away, close enough to visit whenever we wanted.
A recent visit, when I had the joy of caring for one of our grands, brought all those familiar grandparent clichés rushing back. “Perfect love sometimes doesn’t come until the first grandchild.” And my personal favorite: an hour with your grandchildren makes you feel young again; anything longer and you start aging rapidly!
But what I hadn’t anticipated was how nervous I’d be about being responsible for another life, even if only for a few hours. It’s amazing to me that we can parent our own children for 20-plus years and then be thrown completely off course when our children trust us with their children. What happened to that confident soccer mom who balanced a career, child-rearing, and a household? Where did she go?
I was truly taken aback by just how savvy and intelligent a five year old can be. My grand not only directed me to his favorite cheeseburger and hot dog stand but also navigated me back to his house using a back road. I was stunned—and, of course, extraordinarily impressed. Apparently, these little people have a way of keeping us on our toes and making us question whether we remember as much about parenting as we thought we did.
And then there’s the realization that this adoring angel might not be quite so angelic when he’s with his own parents. Perhaps some of that sweetness is reserved just for Grandma. And you know what? I’m perfectly okay with that!
But the joy of grandparenthood goes beyond those precious moments with the little ones. There’s also something almost surreal about watching your own children become parents.
These are the same kids you worried about, guided, and tried your best to prepare for the world. And now, here they are, navigating parenthood themselves, making decisions, figuring things out, and loving their children in ways that are uniquely their own. I’m not sure pride quite captures the feeling. It’s more like a profound sense of wonder—a little amazement, a lot of love, and the realization that somehow, the circle of life has come
around again.
It reminded me how fortunate we are to have the best of both worlds: the opportunity to build this beautiful new chapter of life in the Lowcountry while still being just a drive away from one of life’s greatest joys—loving, nurturing, and watching our grandchildren grow.
Discovering that we don’t have to choose between the life we’ve created for ourselves and the people who make it so meaningful is perhaps one of the sweetest surprises of our Third Act.
Melinda Rooney is a freelance writer whose roots stretch from the New York–Connecticut area to the Carolinas. A wife, mother, and grandmother, she raised her family in Charlotte, N.C., before settling into Lowcountry life with her husband Bob in 2023. An avid tennis player, she now enjoys writing about the people, places, and stories that inspire her.