The arrival of a new grandchild is always a momentous event. We had an even split of five grandsons and five granddaughters before the new little one arrived and broke the tie. When we decided to have four children, we didn’t even think about the potential number of grandchildren that might result. Eleven so far. And we didn’t realize how much joy they would bring into our lives. I feel a little like the Grinch with the expanding heart in the Dr. Seuss tale. My heart grows with each grandchild.
As my hubby says, “If we had known grandkids were so much fun, we would have had them first.” We get to love and spoil them, and then return them to their parents on a sugar high. It’s entertaining to watch our children be parents, patiently cajoling and guiding their kids. We get a feeling of déjà vu when a spunky grandchild sasses their parent…and a sense of cosmic karma.
Each time a grandchild is born, we thank our lucky stars that they’re healthy and their mother is okay. I worry more now than when I was giving birth. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I don’t think I fully understood the risks. Ten toes and ten fingers. Check. A healthy heartbeat and functioning lungs. Check. The miracle of life. I expel the deep breath I have been holding, overwhelmed by gratitude, and utter a heartfelt prayer of thanks.
We traveled to Boston to meet the little guy who just joined our family. There’s an inexplicable feeling of familial connection and deep bonds when you hold a grandchild in your arms for the first time. A grandmother’s heart knows no bounds, and it swells with love with every grandchild.
