We have just celebrated one of the happiest occasions I've ever known--the first birthday of my first grandchild, and, if that were not enough, I got to see the heart beat of my second grandchild on that same day.
What a miracle a grandchild is---the source of love, laughter and pride with none of the responsibility or hard work, and what hard work it is. I'd forgotten just how "on" I was as a Mommy.
It's not so much the constant nursing and feeding, or the soothing and rocking, or the education and exercise; it's the not knowing fully what is going on in that sweet, little body--the high temperature, the piercing cry for no apparent reason, the unclear reason for a change in schedule. It's downright scary--terrifying really as you don't want a moment's discomfort for that darling baby.
The compensating factors for the concerns that come with parenthood (and grandparenthood when we hear about the high fevers or the terrible falls that we can do nothing about) are the snuggling after waking up, the outright laughter at some repeated silliness (in my case, it was sticking out my tongue repeatedly and playing peek-a-boo), and the full blown smile when they see you.
There really is no greater joy except perhaps to remember those same things about your own children. My granddaughter looks just like my daughter and when Lily turns a certain way or makes a certain gesture, she takes me back to being 28 and in love with someone in a way that is totally indescribable--boundless and breathtaking.
I still feel that same beautiful love for my daughter, but because of the boundaries that come with maturation and the changes in relationship that come after children marry, the expression of that love has changed.
But as I watch my daughter express her love to her daughter in much the same way that I expressed my love to her, I am transported and truly amazed at the miracle life can be.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment