When I had children, my mother-in-law refused to be called 'Grandma,' which confused me. 30 years later, I finally understand.

• My mother-in-law didn't want to be labeled as "Grandma" when I had kids.
• I didn't understand why she also dyed her hair blonde or why she took naps during the day.
• Decades later, I now understand how difficult aging really is.

As my due date drew near during my first pregnancy, an unexpected hiccup occurred in a conversation with my mother-in-law. She and my father-in-law were beyond ecstatic with the impending birth of my daughter, but when the subject of grandparent names came up, she threw me a curveball.