Pam, how many grandkids do you and Mike have?
Eleven grandchildren, six girls and five boys.
Your grandchildren range from two years old to 11. What makes them unique?
Each of our grandchildren has a cousin the same age and gender. The youngest is the only one who doesn’t have a cousin who is the same age. However, he has a brother and boy cousin who are only one and a half years older, so they will have a ‘buddy’ group of three. The children all genuinely love each other and love spending time with each other. They’re always planning ways to spend time together.
Do your grandchildren live nearby and are you able to visit with them often?
Two of our children and eight of our grandchildren live in Pike Road. Our youngest daughter and her family live in Opelika with our three other grandchildren, so, they are all close to us. We are so blessed and fortunate to be able to see them often.
What are your favorite ways to make memories with your grandchildren?
We love supporting them in their various activities and spending time with them as we watch them grow and mature. Something we try to do each year is to take a trip together. We have taken several trips to the beach, North Georgia, and Tennessee. We usually rent a house large enough for all of us as we explore new places or revisit favorite spots. There are always calamities and laughter as all 19 of us travel together.
What do you hope your grandchildren remember most from their years with you?
We hope our grandchildren will remember how much we, “Happy and Pappy” (our grandparent’s names), love them unconditionally. Even more importantly, we want them to know how much we love Jesus and desire to follow Him and how He loves them. I recently discovered a letter written from my great-grandmother to my grandmother telling her how she was praying for my mom and the baby in her womb, which was me. What a gift to know my great-grandmother was praying for me before I was born. We want our grandchildren to know we love them and pray for them.
In your opinion, does grandparenting live up to the hype?
It is wonderful to be a grandparent. We don’t feel the same pressure to make all the perfect parenting decisions. In this role, we can focus more on loving and encouraging our grandchildren and their parents. Also, with age comes wisdom about what matters in life.
What is the coolest experience you’ve had with your grandchildren?
A few years ago, we began having “Cousin Buddy Sleepovers” in the summers. Our grandchildren wanted to have more ‘alone’ time with us. So, we decided to take two grandchildren (at a time) to spend a couple of days and a night with us. Because of the even pairings, everyone has a buddy. It works out beautifully. We usually let them choose one fun experience – going to Rockin’ Jump, the Zoo, shopping, etc. They also help us choose our meals. And swimming in our pool is always included. We love the sleepovers because it’s an opportunity to spend focused time with each pair of cousins while building their relationships with each other. The grandchildren, Mike, and I look forward to these special times.
Bio: Pam Jernigan has been married to her husband, Mike, for 44 years. They have three children: Taylor (39), Kelsey (37), and Suzanne (33), plus their 11 grandchildren. The couple lives in Montgomery.
