I’ve been harboring a secret about The Goodwill Project

It’s a good one though.

Turns out, I’m going to be a grandmother.

A baby boy this way cometh, and this girl, this family, this set of new grands is over the moon.

Upon learning this news early in the new year/early in the process, I was immediately hushed from sharing. Instead I’ve spent the last couple of months secretly celebrating each week’s growth via updates from my daughter’s Cute Fruit pregnancy app as He-Who-Has-Yet-To-Be-Named has grown from the size of a raspberry to a lemon to an avocado and a mango.

And I assessed my readiness.

An early valuation determined a shortfall in my library. Outside of cuddling and changing and feeding and burping, I realized that reading books to my new grandson will be one of the first things I can do with him, but my tendency to clear the clutter so that I can bring more in had depleated my stash. And despite a long-time goal and earnest determination to make “Mr. Pine’s Mixed Up Signs” a third-generation favorite, I knew I’d need some variety and replenishment.

So I went to Goodwill.

Now the secret is a secret no longer, and I can admit at long last, that indeed, the pursuit of a well-stocked children’s library was the impetus behind this project and newly-found Goodwill passion of mine. And in just a few months’ time, I’ve collected quite a nice bounty.

Hardback children’s books are just $1.51, and paper ones are 77 cents at Goodwill. Early on I had to establish rules for book buying: One selection per visit. Double points if it was a favorite of my own children. Highest consideration to hardbacks with no writing inside. When I get home, I disinfect each with Lysol wipes and practice a few pages out loud for my October debut.

So my secret is out and I think I’m gonna rock this new role.

And for Mr. Pine : I predict a full-on resurgence.

In addition to tons of great books, I found these board puzzles for $1.99 each at Goodwill. The top one makes farm animal sounds when you drop in the correct puzzle piece. Doesn’t that just look like something a grandmother should have?