Grandparents

What a bundle of jumbled feelings as we prepare to be grandparents again.
Right at the top is the excitement – joy for Nic and Ray as they face this new phase of their lives; anticipation of holding a precious baby that is flesh of our flesh; happiness as we all think about this new little life coming into the world – Graham and Rita becoming grandparents for the first time; Aunty Laura and Aunty Sarah and Uncle Sihle all preening and being proud; Cousin Kev thinking about how he’s going to cope with this new cousin; Nana and Granny Sheila looking forward to another great-grandchild.
Then there is the love and longing for this new little baby. I remember the wonderful feeling when the midwife gave me Kevin to hold after he had been born – a feeling of absolute completeness, of a full circle being completed. I remember how Pete couldn’t wait to hold Kev in his arms as we got into the car on the way home from the hospital. He had only seen him through the glass and said his arms felt empty till he had held him. And I already feel this as I think about “Ricky” – only 6 cm long, but growing his/her way towards the world. I can’t wait to hold her/him.
There’s the impatience – 28 more weeks is so long! I want to fast forward the time till we actually know this little person. Nic will know Ricky already, but for the rest of us, it’s a long waiting game. And I’m impatient to be there and feel Ricky kicking in Nic’s tum, and see the pushing of the little hands, feet and elbows against her skin. And I’m impatient to know if Ricky is a girl or a boy. It’s Nic and Ray’s choice to know or not before the birth, but I want the day that we know to be now!
Then there’s a sadness that Tauranga is so far away. Yes, we’ll be there when Ricky arrives, and they will be home for a bit in April – but how long will it be before we see them again? I know that I will be the “Granny who reads on Skype” and we’re determined to be the best possible long-distance grandparents, but our last experience of a baby grandchild was so close and intimate, with Kev in our home and in our bed, that I wonder how we will cope with being so far away.
And I think all moms worry about their daughters as they approach this big new step in their lives. I want it all to be so perfect for Nic – and I really pray it will be. But who knows – will Ricky be like Nic was?
So it’s not an uncomplicated time – but then we aren’t uncomplicated people. I feel so blessed that we have this chance to welcome and love a new member of the family. Thank you, Nic and Ray. We love all three of you.