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Home › Articles › Opinions and Essays › Grandpa Pitt
and Grandma Prosapio

Grandpa Pitt
and Grandma Prosapio

A Look Into the Future of Grandparenting

By Winter D. Prosapio

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Brad Pitt and I finally have something in common: We are both freaking out about becoming grandparents.

I came late to parenting, and now that Brad has done the same thing at the ripe old age of 42, the math is staring him in the face, too. And it's a mean, crotchety stare.

I know it's a little early for us to worry about these things; my daughters are just 3 and 7 years old and his first biological child has just arrived on the scene. Still, because we both waited so long to become parents, I can't help but think about the consequences of a long career and longer search for the right spouse (both Brad and I have made our mistakes in this arena, but that's another, longer story).

Older Than Average, but Not a Problem
We have to face facts. If the Pitt and Prosapio children wait as long as their parents did to have children of their own, then we will be in our late 70s when the first grandchild shows up for her doughnut breakfast and trip to the toy store. By his 10th birthday we'll be pushing 80. And high school graduation? Perilously close to the big 9-0. Assuming we are still around to ... let's not go there.

Of course there is a very good chance we'll be in great shape. I know some 80-year-olds who can still do just about anything. And both my husband's parents and my parents all seem to be aging gently. For our part, we have given up most of our dangerous habits, including some really good, er, bad vices. While I can't speak for Brad and Angelina, I can say that based on the pictures in the tabloids in the grocery aisle, Brad still seems to be aging pretty well. Really well.

But I digress.

The reality is at this point we are talking about being in our 80s when we become grandparents. That is 15-plus years older than either of our parents were when they became grandparents. Now just turning 70, my parents have slowed down a bit. A little less dancing, a little more reading. So I have to believe 10 years will make a big impact on what we will be capable of doing.

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