The highest honor has been bestowed on me. I suppose I have earned it. I know I have dreamed of this day. My later life has been spent preparing for this role. I am going to be a Busia.

My beautiful daughter and her sweet husband are expecting. I’m over the moon with happiness. This is the news I’ve imagined hearing from the moment they decided to marry. While I never wanted to rush them, I knew this day would come and I eagerly awaited it. The question arose though, what would I like to be called? My immediate thought was – there’s only one Babcia. That name, that title was taken and that position is filled. Nothing else quite fit. I’m not the traditional grandma, not a nana, and not exactly a mammaw. I’m definitely not a grandmother. So what was I?

I did some research. I subsequently learned of the term Busia… an Americanized Polish term for grandma according to what I read. Perfect! What am I but an Americanized version of Babcia! So it was decided, Busia just fits.

Now we wait and enjoy the becoming. I think how all our lives will change. My daughter and her husband will be parents, and I know in my heart they’ll be amazing at it. They both carry so much love. Babcia will become a great-Babcia, the highest honor will be bestowed upon her and she will revel in it. My niece will become a mentor to her little cousin.

Me, I will learn to love all over again. I will see my child in this new child’s face. I will feel my heart fill with emotion and pride. I will learn and remember. I hope that I can fill those enormous shoes adequately. I hope that I can be half the Busia that Babcia is. I hope I give love in a way that it is never doubted or second guessed, but freely given and expected. My greatest role lies ahead of me now. I hope I can be like my own mama and step into it with grace and ease. I hope to love like Babcia. No child could be luckier than to have that.