A little over a week ago my husband Ric and I had the pleasure and honor of watching our granddaughter, sweet Charlotte Rose, for a week. Her parents were married during Covid and never got a real honeymoon so when they saw the chance to escape to Curacao, they took it! I'm thrilled that they did.
Charlotte has a nearly one-year old sister, little Miss Millie, and she stayed with her other grandmother who is retired and much younger, with probably way more energy to boot!
It was a long week, but when it was over I found myself sad and melancholy and missing that little stinker more than I dreamed possible. When she left, I cried and cried, but I also wrote things down, in my journal and in the journal I will someday give to her.
While I was musing on all that I lost that week, including my entire routine, except for work, and access to my tv remote and some sleep, I started to think about all I had gained in the process.
First, I have gained a closer relationship with my first-born grandchild who is my firstborn's first child. That is a lot of firsts. And there were MANY firsts during the week-long Charlotte fest as well. When Charlotte was born, I lamented over the fact that I was still traveling for work nearly full-time and would not be known by her. As grandmothers are want to do, I thought of her other grandmother and just knew they would build lasting memories while I faded away into oblivion. Thankfully, that is not the case, as each grandmother has her own time and unique things to contribute and to pour into Charlotte's life. And she is old enough to realize and remember things so my fears, like many, died a long death, first in reality, then in my mind.
In addition, I have gained precious memories and, hopefully, she has too, memories she will remember long after I have left this crazy place and made my way to Jesus. More than anything, I want to leave a legacy to her and her sister, their children and their children. The third and fourth generations, as the Bible says over and over. I think I got a great start on that during this week.
I gained a new appreciation for Joseph and Lauren, her parents, who deal with Charlotte and her sister day in and day out, along with full-time jobs and other commitments. I kept saying to Ric that I had no idea how I ever raised three! I was a lot younger and stayed at home full-time, but still! I do not envy parents who had kids in their 40s, 50s and even 60s. In fact, I think they are just a tad bit crazy, to put it mildly.
Let's see, what else? I have learned more patience, perspective and perseverance. More grace, more mercy, both for others and for me. I have learned that Ric and I make a pretty good tag-team when it comes to caring for Charlotte.
Quite frankly, I have gained so much that it seems foolish to focus on what I lost or could not do, just for a mere week. In the end, the week was about the legacy I would like to leave, teaching Charlotte about my unique view of life and, most of all, about my faith in Jesus.
I hope she remembers that I prayed for her and with her, read her books, taught her my Erin-isms like "Poopy, Doopy, Loopy, Scoopy," took her to the Grinch Ice production at the Gaylord, let her win at UNO (in the beginning) and let her have food for breakfast that maybe she should not have eaten (Rice Krispie treats, anyone)?
More than anything, I want her to remember that I love her, albeit imperfectly. And as much as I love her, there is One who loves her infinitely more than I could ever dream of. It is to Him that I give thanks and praise for the wonderful creation named Charlotte who taught me so much in just a week.
Now where is my Kleenex?