Millie, My MIL

Hanging out with my mother in law reminds me of a junior high slumber party: dinner at Applebee’s, a trip to the Gap, home for popcorn, coke, lots of chocolate, and a good Julia Roberts movie. Except that neither of us are in junior high. In fact, Millie is a mother of three, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of nine (soon to be ten). She’s the most stylish, active, fun, beautiful (inside and out) and remarkable great-grandmother I’ve ever met. When faced with buying you a sweater that looks great with your eyes or the one that’s on sale, she opts for the one that makes your eyes shine. She gives the kids gifts that they absolutely want, but may not absolutely need. And when choosing between fruit cup for dessert or triple-decker-chocolate-scrumptious-dream cake, she’ll order the cake every time. She has an impeccable eye for style and fashion, and a thing for good-looking men. (When we were thinking of baby boy names, she offered up “Lance,” as in from the boy-band InSync, because she thought he was cute). Born in the 1920’s, you’d expect her to raise an eyebrow or two at the way things are now, but she’s right in there with us, keeping up with who’s gotten voted off of American Idol and who will the Batchelor give a rose to next?

With all of the experience she has with child rearing, I’m sure she’s had questions about some of my parenting decisions, but I’ve never once detected a judgmental tone from her. You can talk to Millie about anything, and I wish I made more time for those tell-all chats on the phone. And she likes to laugh. She’ll laugh with you and at herself. Spending time with Millie feels like cozying up in your most comfortable pair of PJ’s, gabbing away about nothing, and everything, with your best friend. Happy Mother’s Day, Millie!