My dad downloaded a pregnancy app so he would know what fruit the baby was each week.
He was gruff my whole childhood. Not unkind, just never a man who asked how you were feeling. Nobody asked him to install anything, and he wasn't doing it to send me updates. He just wanted to know. Then one afternoon he left a voicemail asking how his grandraspberry was doing.
That one is Kimmie's dad, in her own words, from Romper's collection of mothers describing how their fathers changed. Two other families do the same thing from the inside: one couple calls the bump "raspbaby" the week it's that size, another "the blueberry." He was doing it a generation up, on his own, about a baby who did not exist yet.
Send this to your brother or your sister. They're the only person who knew him before.
#grandpa #pregnancy #firstgrandchild #grandbaby #becomingagrandparent
Growing up, my dad was always a bit reserved—never the type to openly share his feelings or ask how I was doing. So when I learned that he had downloaded a pregnancy app, it surprised me. It wasn’t because he wanted to follow medical updates or share the news widely, but because he genuinely wanted to connect with the idea of the baby in his own way. The app’s weekly comparison of the baby’s size to fruits like raspberries or blueberries became a meaningful detail he remembered, and he affectionately referred to the baby as his "grandraspberry." This small act spoke volumes about the ways different generations express love and excitement. Sometimes, parents who seem tough on the outside show their care through thoughtful actions rather than words. For me, receiving that voicemail from my dad asking about his grandraspberry was deeply moving—it was a glimpse into his heart, revealing a softer, more engaged side I hadn’t fully recognized before. Many families have their own unique ways of bonding over a pregnancy. Some parents refer to the unborn baby with cute nicknames like "raspbaby" or "blueberry," cherishing every milestone even before meeting their grandchild. These moments not only strengthen family ties but also help bridge generational gaps. From installing an app to sending sweet messages, becoming a grandparent is often accompanied by new forms of connection. I encourage those reading this to reach out to family members who might seem distant or gruff. Actions, even as simple as downloading an app or leaving a voicemail, can be heartfelt signals of care and involvement. Sharing stories like these helps us appreciate the quiet and sometimes unexpected ways love is expressed in our families. For anyone awaiting a grandchild or watching their own parents transform into grandparents, these moments are precious reminders that love transcends words and generations. Keeping a pregnancy app or discussing the baby’s growth week by week can create joyful anticipation and deepen bonds in ways nothing else quite can.
