The Generation without Grandparents

Women are electing to put off motherhood as long as possible now. Maybe it's part of being the "spoiled generation," the products of child-centered homes in a country of plenty. Maybe it's because women need that extra time to get ahead in the workplace.  Maybe it's because couples don't want to interrupt their lives with midnight diaper changes.

Whatever the situation, the clock is the ticking--the biological clock and the clock of life.  Grandparents can't stick around forever.

The Unspoken Word

Fio's parents didn't use the "L" word. They considered it gushy and insincere. As Fiorella's mother explained to her, "Actions speak louder than words--'love' is about what you do, not what you say." Even as she lay dying, Mother restrained herself. "We love you, Grandma," her little granddaughter said. "I feel the same about you," Mother replied.

In a way, it worked: Fio always knew she was beloved. But she also longed for The Word.

That's probably why Fio went overboard with her own family. The kids grew up hearing her say "I love you." Constantly.

Which means they'll probably follow their grandmother's example, and "love" will once again be a word unspoken.