When I had my son, I never thought about his having children. I don't know why? Maybe because he was a baby, then a little boy, a teenager,and then a twenty year old finding himself. When he turned thirty he got married. That's when I began to think that he might want to have children of his own.
I remember exactly where I was ( in the dining room) when he called to tell me they were pregnant. Initially I felt numb and afraid. When I think about it now, I don't know why that was my first reaction. The excitement followed quickly but I was thinking about it in terms of being excited for them rather than for myself.
My attention to my son and his wife around having a baby was fun for me. I sent them little things every month. Maternity clothes, my favorite book about what to expect when having a baby, pacifiers, and baby clothes to name a few. I could feel how much they were looking forward to becoming parents. That made me happy.
I went to visit them over Christmas for a couple of weeks and got to experience my daughter-in-law being pregnant. That definitely made it more of a reality for me. I enjoyed our conversations about what they might need, what they could expect in the beginning, what kind of help they would need and baby names.
I was pleased when they asked me if I would come after the birth and help them for a few weeks. I was especially pleased because I knew that Kirstyn's mother was coming from England to be there for a month. I was afraid that having both of us there at the same time might be too much, but that is what they wanted. It made me very happy to be included in this way.
They took me to the midwife facility where they had chosen to deliver. We looked at all the birthing rooms and picked out their favorite. Then I was allowed to go to the appointment with the midwife to hear the heartbeat. That was really awesome!
It began to sink into my being that they were indeed having a baby. I still didn't focus of my becoming a Grandmother. I began to make a quilt for the baby. After 60 hours of embroidering and having her name professionally put on it I began to put the quilt together.
Then I began to hear from my friends that had Grandchildren what a wonderful experience it was. They were filled with stories, and I could tell from this that being a Grandparent was a special thing. I began to get excited and feel it in an entirely new way. I was going to be a Grandmother. YES!
Now I have only one more month to wait before the baby is born. I am already gathering small gifts for Shannon and Kirstyn and the baby to bring with me when I go. I have researched the best way to go--flying, taking the train, or driving. I am trying to decide when to go, because I would love to see her when she is first born. I have decided to wait and see how I feel when it gets closer and after I have a chance to have a heart felt conversation with Shannon and Kirstyn about their wishes around that.
I am not only excited about becoming a Grandmother, I am grateful, too. I think my son, who I consider to be a wonderful man, will be a fantastic father. And I know that Kirstyn will be a kind and loving mother. I will be happy when Amelia is born and I know she is healthy. Then my world will be different forever. I will be a Grandmother.
I remember exactly where I was ( in the dining room) when he called to tell me they were pregnant. Initially I felt numb and afraid. When I think about it now, I don't know why that was my first reaction. The excitement followed quickly but I was thinking about it in terms of being excited for them rather than for myself.
My attention to my son and his wife around having a baby was fun for me. I sent them little things every month. Maternity clothes, my favorite book about what to expect when having a baby, pacifiers, and baby clothes to name a few. I could feel how much they were looking forward to becoming parents. That made me happy.
I went to visit them over Christmas for a couple of weeks and got to experience my daughter-in-law being pregnant. That definitely made it more of a reality for me. I enjoyed our conversations about what they might need, what they could expect in the beginning, what kind of help they would need and baby names.
I was pleased when they asked me if I would come after the birth and help them for a few weeks. I was especially pleased because I knew that Kirstyn's mother was coming from England to be there for a month. I was afraid that having both of us there at the same time might be too much, but that is what they wanted. It made me very happy to be included in this way.
They took me to the midwife facility where they had chosen to deliver. We looked at all the birthing rooms and picked out their favorite. Then I was allowed to go to the appointment with the midwife to hear the heartbeat. That was really awesome!
It began to sink into my being that they were indeed having a baby. I still didn't focus of my becoming a Grandmother. I began to make a quilt for the baby. After 60 hours of embroidering and having her name professionally put on it I began to put the quilt together.
Then I began to hear from my friends that had Grandchildren what a wonderful experience it was. They were filled with stories, and I could tell from this that being a Grandparent was a special thing. I began to get excited and feel it in an entirely new way. I was going to be a Grandmother. YES!
Now I have only one more month to wait before the baby is born. I am already gathering small gifts for Shannon and Kirstyn and the baby to bring with me when I go. I have researched the best way to go--flying, taking the train, or driving. I am trying to decide when to go, because I would love to see her when she is first born. I have decided to wait and see how I feel when it gets closer and after I have a chance to have a heart felt conversation with Shannon and Kirstyn about their wishes around that.
I am not only excited about becoming a Grandmother, I am grateful, too. I think my son, who I consider to be a wonderful man, will be a fantastic father. And I know that Kirstyn will be a kind and loving mother. I will be happy when Amelia is born and I know she is healthy. Then my world will be different forever. I will be a Grandmother.
