Grand children in the picture
Posted on July 1, 2016 by bob in EdNote
“But where are brother and me?” my granddaughter asked, without taking her eyes off the photo.
It was a perspective I hadn’t considered. Busy trying to pique our young grandchildren’s interest about a recent sailboat purchase and the pending family fun the vessel might represent, it never occurred to me they’d feel left out seeing pictures of beloved family members laughing and enjoying a boat outing — absent any sign of them.
“You were both taking a nap,” I answered truthfully. But the little ones’ omission from this family event suddenly seemed as sad to me as it must have felt to her.
In three-and-a-half short years these babies have become a central thread in our family’s fabric, a dynamic force of nature that has changed us all. Fun without the grandkids? Impossible! And besides, who wants to?
I never spent a great deal of time dwelling on the thought of becoming a grandparent — although I looked forward to the experience, whenever it might happen. Having seen many of my friends mystically changed by their new status, I had no idea what to expect. Family members waxed on about the glorious grandparent/grandchild relationship, saying it was even better than parenthood. What they tried to relate was impossible for me to understand.
The transformation occurred so slowly it was imperceptible. Initially I was overjoyed just to meet this first member of our family’s new generation in early 2013, marveling at her little fingers and toes, opining on whom she resembled, consumed with details of her feeding schedule. I smiled to see how well our son and daughter-in-law adjusted to this new life as we tried to help them recover from the chaotic first-baby storm that had just blown in.
Somewhere between her first giggle, those long, intense gazes as she drank from her bottle, and the “old country” lullabies we often sang to help her drift off to sleep, it happened. I don’t know if it was a matter of weeks or months, but suddenly I found myself talking incessantly about the baby to everyone I knew. No matter how hard I tried, I could barely get through a conversation without some mention of her. Bob and I both marveled at her every action, as we tirelessly watched and re-watched videos of her playing, walking, talking, eating and laughing. Babysitting this sweetheart quickly became a weekly highlight. It is still the highlight of every week – even today, some three years later.
Our grandchildren (we have two now, with a third on the way) are precious to us. During each visit we engage in silly games, go on nature hunts around the back yard, and sneak in as many hugs, kisses, and cuddles as an afternoon can hold. We are utterly devoted to nurturing their happy hearts and helping them create strong social and emotional connections that will serve them for years to come.
And while the time we spend together may seem to be all about them, the remarkable irony is what these children bring to us. We read, sing, and share stories, but they share their hearts and allow us the thrill of witnessing the world through a child’s guileless perspective. We’re honored for that rare privilege and sublime pleasure.
Now, have I told you about my grandchildren…?
Sandra Polizos, Editor
primeeditor@gmail.com
