Half a Step Over

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.