GRAND Magazine - September/October 2016 - 19

cover story

CONNECT WITH GRAND

Continued from previous page
GRAND: It's been almost two years since
Charlotte arrived and you became a grandmother. That happened to both of us in the
same year - 2014. You wrote in the foreword
to Good to Be Grand that you were enjoying
"the grandmother glow." And now with Aidan,
it's "glow times two." How has being a grandmother matched up to your expectations?
HC: It's an indescribable gift. All of my friends
who are grandparents told me how amazing-
and even transformative-it would be, but I didn't
fully understand what they meant until I experienced it for myself.
And it turns out being a grandmother of two
is twice as good! It touches my heart every time
I see Charlotte and Aidan. I'm constantly marveling at all of the little things they do and the ways
they're changing all the time. Charlotte is saying
"Grandma" now, and I just can't get enough.
Nothing makes me prouder than watching Chelsea
be a mom. Every once in a while I'll catch a glimpse of
something that reminds me of things I said or did as
a mother, and that continuity of love and family-and
knowing I played some small role in the incredible
parent Chelsea has become-is really special.

HC: Being a mother-and especially a
grandmother-has made me think deeply
about the type of future we're building,
and what we can do to be better stewards
of the world for our kids and grandkids. It
drives me to get up every day and keep
fighting to make sure the next generation
is healthy and well educated-and that
we're making every opportunity available to
them. And it's really made me think about
how we can foster more compassion and
kindness toward one another and pass
those values on to our kids.
GRAND: As the first woman to win her
party's nomination for President of the
United States, how do you think being
the first female president, who's also a
grandmother, will help you set priorities
and make a difference for our country?

HC: I have a fierce commitment to helping
children reach for their dreams-not just
a
else
Ch
and
y,
roth
Bill and Hillary's college days
my own grandchildren but all children. I felt
Hillary, her mother Do
especially strongly about it after I became a
mom, and I feel even more strongly about
it as a grandmother. When you get to see these precious little
HC: I've been on the campaign trail about 16 months now, and
GRAND: What is one personal quality you've developed or
it's a wonderful but very intense experience. I love that even in the human beings come into the world, you think about what you can
adjusted because of being a grandmother?
do to improve their lives.
most stressful moments, I can pick up the phone and FaceTime
HC: Being a grandmother has helped me to stay focused and cen- with Charlotte. She and Chelsea would call me to say "good luck"
I believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. And as
tered in the present. I'm in awe of what Charlotte and Aidan are
president, I'll do everything I can to make sure we're giving every
before debates and primaries, and I really cherish those carefree
doing at any given moment, because they're growing and learnchild the chance at a bright future. That includes fighting for universal
moments.
ing new things all the time. And it lets me be a little more playful.
pre-K and affordable healthcare. And I want to make sure every child
can attend college without taking on crippling student loan debt,
GRAND: How do you believe that quality or other qualities of
GRAND: Yes, when I interviewed grandparents for the book,
because you shouldn't have to be the grandchild of a former presibeing a mother and grandmother make you more effective in
many said that same thing about rediscovering how to play.
dent to be successful in America.
other areas of your life?
Continued on next page
19 GRAND SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2016

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2016