A Grandchild Is Coming!
A Grandchild Is Coming!
Finally, it’s coming. We’re going to be grandparents in just
a few weeks. My mother will be a great-grandmother. My sister will become a
great-aunt, which I suspect she’s more into than she was when she first got
nieces. All of our friends are anticipating this event. For us, we’re almost
the first in our circles to hit this milestone.
Speaking of my mother, she’s ecstatic. I think she thought
it might never happen – her late best friend was up to five of them, but now there
is no way to, as they say, “kvell” about it there. But every day I am asked,
“What’s the word from Denver? How big is the baby now? I’m telling everyone I
know.” I’m with her; I want to talk about it too—to everyone.
Have you seen how many tests the mother-to-be now has to go
through? In my day, there was a little blood work, and if there was any
concern, maybe an ultrasound. Even amniocentesis didn’t happen too often, and
it was usually done only in select hospitals. Now they have whole panels of
tests for very specific areas. Ultrasounds are commonplace, with pictures sent
home with you. The only one that really bothers me is the digital one, which
can show the face of the baby. And there are also prebirth tests to make sure
the delivery can’t transfer germs to the baby. Who knew about this stuff years
ago? And yet the kids usually arrived just fine.
How do I feel about this? I think I’m ready for the next
generation to arrive. I like the idea of another member of the family, although
this time I don’t have to be the primary caregiver and will be there for play
dates. I’m with the group that believes grandparents are there to provide support—especially
mentally and emotionally—but also to play with the kids, wear them out, and
then return them to the parents and let them calm the kids down. I’m not sure I’ll
overwhelm a kid with sweets though. This time around, it’s just payback.
I haven’t had the heart to tell my daughter and son-in-law
that while they’ll always be special people, the grandchild has moved to the
top of that ladder. And what can be more
special than that? It’s the main rule of
grandparenthood. Now I make sure to check out baby clothes in every relevant
store I pass. Don’t know what we’re getting yet but I’ll be prepared.
Time to get to the big event.