January 7th 2024.
Dionne Smith is a 45-year-old celebrity hairstylist from South East London. Despite her youthful looks and glamorous style, she's a proud grandmother - and she's doing her best to juggle her career and family life.
Dionne became a grandmother in her 30s when her eldest son Jordan had a baby. Despite feeling too young to be a grandparent, she embraced the role and decided to go by 'Glam-Ma' rather than 'Gran' or 'Granny'.
It's not just strangers who can't quite get their heads around the family dynamic, as even Dionne finds it hard to believe sometimes.
"When I tell people my eldest son is 29, and that I have two more sons in their twenties, as well as a six-year-old granddaughter - their faces are a picture," she said.
The 45-year-old is still working on her career as well as being a mum and a grandparent. However, this has caused Dionne a lot of guilt. She's had to sacrifice time with her family and admits that it can be hard to figure out how to balance all the different aspects of her life.
Fortunately, Dionne has found positives in being a younger grandparent. She has forged a 'special bond' with her granddaughter and still has the energy and mentality to keep up with her.
"I'm more open-minded with ways of life and I think I'm more understanding too," she said.
Dionne's story is far from unique. Marjorie Hershberg Perry, a 66-year-old grandmother from the US, recently launched an online coaching service for fellow grandparents struggling with guilt.
Marjorie's message is that grandparents shouldn't be afraid to have a life of their own, and Dionne has certainly taken this to heart.
Having fallen pregnant at 16, Dionne was determined to make something of herself and she's been pushing herself ever since.
"I think becoming a mum at 16 made me the way I am today and gave me that drive," she said.
"I wouldn't change my life for the world."
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
