Four days later I drove up to visit and practice my new grandmothering skills while trying to be of help to this new family. I stayed for three days, doing some laundry, making a few meals, running the vacuum....but mostly I held Alex.
At night he was my "roommate". I slept in a single bed across the room from his crib....a perfect spot for a visiting grandmother. It was my "job" to pick him up when he woke, and sit and rock him for a little while so his mom could get a few more minutes of sleep time before nursing him. In the silence of the night I would rock this new baby...staring down into a beautiful little face. Alex seemed to look back at me, furrowed brow demonstrating serious concentration. He spent some alone time in my arms while I loved him and thought about his family, his world, his future. So many exciting things lay ahead....so much to explore.
Sadly, for us, we've always been the long-distance grandparents and didn't get to spend enough one-on-one time with our son's two sons. I wasn't the grandmother who was close by for the growing up moments.....but I was the first grandmother to ever get to hold him. On June 10, 2016 we were north of Seattle watching our first grandson cross a bridge. High school graduation meant leaving childhood behind and moving on to more new adventures. Our Alex has grown into an accomplished and handsome young man. As we watched there were a few more quiet tears hovering in my eyes.....but I tried not to let them show.
So now our first grandson goes off to college in the fall. So many exiciting things lay ahead for him....so much to explore. We'll be the far-away grandparents watching at a distance.
Consider the possibililties.
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