Black Heron in Milford

Parenting vs Grandparenting

Parenting is probably the hardest job anyone will ever enter into. It is undeniably one of the most joyful jobs as well. Who will ever forget the first words, first steps, first day of kindergarten, soccer practice, graduation, prom, college, wedding and all the myriad routine days between?

And suddenly the house is empty – the silence louder than any noise children make – slamming doors, screeching, sibling rivalry, unbridled joy over an accomplishment? Treasured moments that come tumbling back from inside our memories, resurrected when we first encounter our grandchildren and see our children in their new and wondrous faces!

My grandson spent his first overnight with me and though I was grateful to have Monday as a “recovery day,” I would not have missed it! The playground at Weed Beach delighted him as he climbed, jumped, slid and explored, and dipping his feet, hot from the sand, into the cool salt water.

Later, picking fresh beans from the garden to have with our dinner, I watched his little hands lifting the leaves to look for the beans, finding them and proudly holding them out to me. On the other side he picked fresh raspberries for breakfast eating several as he picked. I remembered my sons doing this and questioning dinner “what is this leaf Mom” as I snuck in kale, herbs and other healthy greenery into whatever happened to be on that night’s menu. They were hungry and ate despite my freaking out – why aren’t you eating? Now, I’m easier, eat or don’t eat, whatever your tummy tells you! Usually they eat.

And later the little things they say at bedtime “my Dad and Mom are really going to miss me…” the only sign he gave of homesickness. I took it as a sign that he trusted me and was happy to be here and I look forward to so many memories with my grandson, the special relationship that I remembered my three sons had with their grandmother, sometimes making me jealous and feeling left out. Of course I told him “yes they are going to miss you and will be excited to come over tomorrow and get you!”

And I watched him sleeping as I had watched my own sons sleeping and you think – how much love can one heart have? The answer is enough, and more. This little being that came from my creation of his father amazes and awes me. The heart never stops growing, never stops loving, never runs out of room. So I hope parents and grandparents throughout town enjoy the adventure and remember “this too shall pass” when ice cream covers the face and hands!

The New Year

What a perfect early January day. It’s snowing. Softly – mixture of big sloppy wet flakes and tiny droplets more rain than snow – very gray – but somehow the starkness of the day makes it perfect.  And tomorrow is Sunday so no worries if we’re snowed in. The Christmas tree is down and everything packed away until the end of the year, leaving open space to spread out and breathe. A pile of books sits on the table waiting to take me to literary feasts and I’m eager to indulge! Wood is neatly stacked by the hearth for later when night falls and is gently lit by only the whiteness of the snow. Hot chocolate spiked with a little crème de cacao to take the chill off…. What a perfect January day.