He said, "I'm sorry your grandbabies live so far away. I didn't understand before, but now I do."
'He' is Steve Kay, the preacher at the church where I work as the secretary. I guess that makes him my boss, but not your typical boss-employee relationship. More like friends who work together.
Of course, my 'grandbabies' aren't babies anymore. They range in age from 6 to 16. But he was referring to when I first became a grandma, and my kids lived here. First with Bevan, then Eric, and finally Garrett, I watched them one or two days a week. And on those days I brought them to work with me. I had a portable crib at the office and in between babysitting duties I worked. Steve complained some about me having my grandkids there, but didn't tell me I couldn't bring them. And the babysitting duties didn't last very long at all. Michael and Melinda moved to Kentucky when Bevan was about eight months old. Eric was with me for a few weeks when he was a baby and then again when he was 3 or 4. Garrett, just a few times as a baby.
Fast forward 10-15 years, now Steve has become a grandpa. His grandson, Daniel, was born last year, and his granddaughter, Grace, was just born about six weeks ago. His grandkids are the love of his life right now, and they live close by and they get to see them and babysit them often. Now, he gets it.
Now, the roles are reversed and, while I'm happy for him, I don't want to hear about all of the time he gets to spend with them...
I'm sorry my grandkids live so far away, too.
Today, May 9, 2014 is Garrett's 12th birthday. Twelve. I had to look up his birthdate to be sure and yep, he's twelve. One more reminder of all of the wasted years I haven't got to see and get to know Rick's kids. Oh, I sent Garrett a b-day card and gift card. He called me to thank me this afternoon. But you could tell we didn't have much to say. I asked him how he was celebrating. He said they were going out for Chinese food. Then Christy asked me if I remembered making Garrett's Mickey Mouse crib set. Oh, yes I do. In fact today I was thinking about the day they brought him home (he is adopted and was about 6 months old). We (his grandpa Al and me) went over to see him and got to hold him for the first time. He was our first adopted grandchild and I can tell you, you love them just the same. His grandpa and I were there when he celebrated his first birthday in 2003, but then three weeks later, his grandpa left me for another woman. That was the last birthday I celebrated with him and today he is twelve. Christy asked if I wanted to talk to Rick (I think it was so he wouldn't need to call me on Mother's Day in two days). Sure I want to talk to him. But that conversation was just as awkward as the one with Garrett. A little more small talk, but he's been out of my life by his choice for 15 years and sadly there's not much common ground. And it hurts. It hurts a lot.
Separated by miles and time, but never out of my mind or heart...Being a mom and a grandma are still the most precious of my life's accomplishments.
'He' is Steve Kay, the preacher at the church where I work as the secretary. I guess that makes him my boss, but not your typical boss-employee relationship. More like friends who work together.
Of course, my 'grandbabies' aren't babies anymore. They range in age from 6 to 16. But he was referring to when I first became a grandma, and my kids lived here. First with Bevan, then Eric, and finally Garrett, I watched them one or two days a week. And on those days I brought them to work with me. I had a portable crib at the office and in between babysitting duties I worked. Steve complained some about me having my grandkids there, but didn't tell me I couldn't bring them. And the babysitting duties didn't last very long at all. Michael and Melinda moved to Kentucky when Bevan was about eight months old. Eric was with me for a few weeks when he was a baby and then again when he was 3 or 4. Garrett, just a few times as a baby.
Fast forward 10-15 years, now Steve has become a grandpa. His grandson, Daniel, was born last year, and his granddaughter, Grace, was just born about six weeks ago. His grandkids are the love of his life right now, and they live close by and they get to see them and babysit them often. Now, he gets it.
Now, the roles are reversed and, while I'm happy for him, I don't want to hear about all of the time he gets to spend with them...
I'm sorry my grandkids live so far away, too.
Today, May 9, 2014 is Garrett's 12th birthday. Twelve. I had to look up his birthdate to be sure and yep, he's twelve. One more reminder of all of the wasted years I haven't got to see and get to know Rick's kids. Oh, I sent Garrett a b-day card and gift card. He called me to thank me this afternoon. But you could tell we didn't have much to say. I asked him how he was celebrating. He said they were going out for Chinese food. Then Christy asked me if I remembered making Garrett's Mickey Mouse crib set. Oh, yes I do. In fact today I was thinking about the day they brought him home (he is adopted and was about 6 months old). We (his grandpa Al and me) went over to see him and got to hold him for the first time. He was our first adopted grandchild and I can tell you, you love them just the same. His grandpa and I were there when he celebrated his first birthday in 2003, but then three weeks later, his grandpa left me for another woman. That was the last birthday I celebrated with him and today he is twelve. Christy asked if I wanted to talk to Rick (I think it was so he wouldn't need to call me on Mother's Day in two days). Sure I want to talk to him. But that conversation was just as awkward as the one with Garrett. A little more small talk, but he's been out of my life by his choice for 15 years and sadly there's not much common ground. And it hurts. It hurts a lot.
Separated by miles and time, but never out of my mind or heart...Being a mom and a grandma are still the most precious of my life's accomplishments.
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