Can you walk into a room and pick out the grandparents? My grandchildren say they can. Do grandparents have identifiable DNA? No. Do they wear aprons? Not necessarily. Nor do they have blue hair.

Here are some of the ways my grandkids have shared their recognition with me.

While driving my granddaughter home from school, a car careened in front of me. I held my tongue and only remarked, “that must be some teenager showing off.” My granddaughter replied, “that’s a grandmother.” When we pulled in behind the car, I saw she was correct. I asked how she knew. Her response? “Fluffy Hair!”

My grandson has a different concept of grandparents. While babysitting, I took him to the Y to swim. When we entered the pool area, he stopped and exclaimed, Wow, look at all the grandmothers! There was a water aerobics class in the pool.

He also explained to me when I was correcting his sassy mouth for talking back to me, that I was not an adult, I was a grandparent. Well said!

Grandkids do take liberties with grandparents.

I’d never thought about these things before, about how children might identify grandparents. After all, anyone over the age of 30 is old to them. They must have a system.

Until a grandfather decides to post a comment or make a statement, this will continue to be about grandmothers.

As you know the word smart has various meanings. Smart dresser, smart pain, smart remark, smart woman, to name a few.

If you are a grandparent you understand these meanings. If you are not, you are connected to someone who is.

When the grandkids are young, they are impressionable. They view you as smart, wise, sharp. They ask you questions and accept your answers obediently. Your years of experience are put to use. (At this young age, the grandchildren ask advice and you are free to give advice, even when not asked. They use your talents.)SMART KIDS!

Never, never, offer advice to their parents!!

Then, they get a little older; they feel they have acquired enough knowledge and experience to thrive on their own. This smarts - but we felt the same way when we were their age. Therefore, we understand. They feel smarter, know things that weren't taught when you were in school, and don't seek your advice so willingly solicited in the past.

If you are a smart grandmother, you stay alert to current events and happenings. You still have opinions and solutions.

It may seem no one cares or asks. Then, in an unexpected moment, perhaps during a family dinner, an issue arises and grandmother is smart again. She has an answer.

Always remember, the grandkids may get smarter than you, but they will never be wiser.

That's what I call ‘Grandmother Smarts.’