It never
ceases to amaze me how much joy and love I feel inside when I am around my
grandchildren. I always thought, when they were born, at some point that
pounding in my heart would subside. The
joy I feel when they walk into the room is supposed to become less over time,
isn’t it?
Well it just
isn’t happening to me. As they get older, they just hit different stages, just
like my own children did and with each stage comes new and exciting moments to
share. My love just seems to deepen. I feel so enriched being a part of their
lives. It matters not what I am doing
with them. It can be simply reading a child’s book or tucking them into bed and
my world is spinning with joy. When
they smile, it makes a cancer battle worth every day of the fight. It makes all
the wrongs in the world right.
My friends
call me the foreign tourist in my own country. I am the woman with the camera
that takes pictures constantly. When the
grandchildren are near, they begin to hide their faces from me. That doesn’t work
though. If necessary, I am known to
resort to going under tables to catch those beautiful eyelashes on film or the
adorable perky nose of Ava, those gorgeous brown eyes of my grandson Kaleb or
any other trait any of the four have.
And the list is a mile long of the traits they have that I adore.
When I talk
to friends that have grandchildren I find I am not alone. Grandmas seem to
share this common bond. A badly taken photo is still a prized possession. Even
what others consider a cranky baby is a feisty sweetheart to us. A belligerent child to a parent is a
competent human being to grandma; this is a child who knows darn well how to stand up for themselves and will be
somebody someday! Oh, we are full of
excuses for our grandkids, something we were always short on with our own
kids. Time does change us, age does
too!
I always
have candy in my refrigerator door. I
started giving it to my grandkids when they first learned to use the potty.
Gone are those days, over a year ago, but yet the candy remains. They are proud
to know where it is housed. And even more fond of opening the door and asking
for it, repeatedly. At first, it was
done after creating very slight tinkle streams in order to win favor and get
the beloved candy, usually their favorites, Reese cups or Butterfingers. Now it is just pure twisting me around the
pinkie finger and it works every single time.
How can I say no to something so cute?
I have a sweet tooth myself and to me, there is nothing sweeter than my
grandchildren.
I remember
when my children were young, taking a trip to the fair was something expected
of me. Seeing my children laugh and play on rides and petting animals was
fun. Somehow with the grandchildren is
even more delightful in a different kind of way. There is this freedom to brag, shout out
loud my joy and pride in their happiness and scream with delight when they
do. Complete abandonment. Unlike my own children these days, my grandkids are not embarrassed
by outward shows of affection.
If my son or
daughter caught me running towards them with a bear hug, they would be sorely
tempted to run in the other direction or pretend I was a stranger who got loose
from the nearest mental ward. My grand-kids would meet me half way, screaming all the way,”love you Grandma! Come quickly!”
What
wonderful moments I have shared and will continue to share with my
grandchildren! I know, when the final
day comes and I am called to heaven, it will be a beautiful good bye and will
only last until I see them again….. (Click on Video below)
