Grandma at 38 Who Never Had Kids Couldn't be ‘More Honored' by Role

A Nevada woman has become a grandmother at 38, despite never having children of her own.

Lycette Beatty, from Las Vegas, told Newsweek she “couldn't have been more honored” when her stepdaughter, Tia, asked her to take on the role, particularly given her own experiences with miscarriage and infertility.

The announcement came in the form of a surprise gift-"Grandma and Grandpa Est. 2025" mugs-which initially left Beatty stunned.

“Then, it hit me,” she said. “I'm not the only mother figure in her life, so I started questioning it, ‘Are you sure?!' But she said yes!”

Beatty, who describes her four other stepchildren-Lea, Mya, Conrad Jr. and Reuben-with husband Conrad simply as “my kids,” said she embraced motherhood when she met them, taking on the role almost overnight.

While Beatty admitted it was not without challenges, she said the experience shaped her understanding of family and prepared her for the next chapter.

“I always told the kids, ‘I wish I could have raised you from when you were babies,'” Beatty said, explaining that she had longed to experience motherhood from the earliest stages.

“Partly because I never experienced raising a child from birth,” Beatty added. “And the other part was because I just wish I could have been in their lives earlier then when I met them.”

When her Tia shared the news of her pregnancy, Beatty said it felt like a turning point. “Anyone would be excited to hear their daughter is having a baby,” she said.

“But I think, for me, it was like my dream was coming true. I finally get to help raise the baby from day one.”

Now living under the same roof as her granddaughter, Khloe Rae, Beatty said the experience has exceeded her expectations. Daily life revolves around time spent together-whether that is mornings at home or outings she described as “Lala and Khloe dates.”

Despite the joy she has found in the role, Beatty said her age often prompts surprise from others.

“I always get, ‘You're not old enough to have grandkids,'” she said, adding that she is more than happy to explain her family dynamic. “I'm very proud to be a grandma.”

Reflecting on her path, Beatty encouraged others who may not have had children of their own to remain open to different possibilities.

“I think a lot of people over worry or have this immediate fear that it's scary or not going to be enjoyable before things start to get serious,” she said.

“I say, keep an open mind and try to enjoy it. Find a way to relate to the kids and don't try too hard. They will naturally become closer to you on their own.”

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 12:39 PM.