My son-in-law recently introduced me to his friend the following way: “This is Kate. She’s an interesting person and a good conversationalist … unless Anne is in the room. In that case, don’t even try.”
Anne is my toddler-aged granddaughter, and I am guilty as charged. Something happens to me when I’m with her. I’m enchanted. Bewitched. Besotted.
It turns out that this isn’t just love, though there’s plenty of that. I’m experiencing “Grandma Brain.” That’s not a technical term, but there is a scientific explanation for what’s going on. Neurological research has shown that something unique happens to our brains when we see our grandchildren — and it may explain our intense devotion and delight.