At 33, Gemma Skinner is proud to welcome a new child into her granddaughter.
The childminder is believed to have become Britain’s youngest grandmother when her 17-year-old daughter gave birth last weekend – and she couldn’t be more delighted.
At first, I didn’t want to be called ‘nan’ or ‘granny’,’ she said. ‘But now I’m loving it.’
Gemma was only 16 when she became a mother to Maizie, who in turn became a mum at 17 in the early hours of last Sunday.
Gemma has two other daughters, Gracie, ten, and Bella, four – who are now both aunties.
But she says that when Maizie became pregnant: ‘My first reaction was worry because it wasn’t easy for me when I found out that I was pregnant so young. But I wouldn’t change anything for the world and I love our little family. Maizie has taken to being a mum so naturally and I’m so proud of her.’
She was born successfully, weighing 8lb 4oz.
Gemma, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, said that her younger daughters were pleased to be aunts, but that her own mother, Lorraine, 54, was ‘not ready to be a great-grandma’.
Maizie – whose partner, Jack Weir, is 19 – said Gemma had been supportive throughout her pregnancy.
She said: ‘My mum was by my side the entire time and didn’t leave me. She’s teaching me everything I need to know and more, and I’m so grateful for her.
‘She has taught me how strong I have to be as a parent and I’m proud of what my daughter has in her.’
Gemma joins a small number of women who became grandmothers in their early 30s.
In June, Jenni Medlam, from Hull, also became a grandmother at 33 when her daughter, Charmaine, 16, gave birth to Isla-May.
The average age for a first-time mother in the UK is 29 and the average age for a first-time grandparent is 63.
Source:dailymail.co.uk
