Love is one powerful thing and family can bring out the love like nothing I’ve ever known. So far, the baby (first grandchild, Ramey) and his mom and dad, Katie and Daniel, have been trading off Christmas and Thanksgiving. One year they go to see paternal grandparents and the next year they stay home with maternal grandparents. Many of you know how this goes.
Well, I’ve been so fortunate to have been invited each year the baby has been here to go out of town and I’ve taken them up on it but this year, I really and honestly felt it might be just a bit selfish on my part to have the grand all year and then take the other grandparents’ up on the invite. This year, I decided to stay home and let them enjoy their son, daughter-in-law and grand without my tagging along. And, though I was encouraged to come and reminded several times that it would be okay, it seemed like the right thing to do to let them enjoy their complete gathering together without old “tag-a-long.” And, I must say once more. It wasn’t easy to not be that tag-a-long!
The morning before my daughter’s little family left for Christmas holidays I met her at Barnes and Noble bookstore and spent some time milling around and enjoying each other. The toddler played with the train set and looked around the store pulling my finger to go here and there and then we went to the small coffee shop in the corner of the store for the strong Starbuck’s coffee and a muffin.
The baby wasn’t interested in the muffin but stood in the chair playing with keys and containers on the table. I watched intently at him and for no good reason and I tried to stop them but tears just rolled out of my eyes. I had no warning and there was just nothing I could do. Drops filled my eyes and fell onto the table as my daughter was telling of their excitement of going first to California, renting a car and then flying to Texas and… and… and… and…
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I was content in my decision to stay home and knew I had made the right choice. I had felt loved by all parties in the matter and did not begrudge at all their going. In fact, I was excited for them as she explained in details their fine plans to fly and go and do.
“Mama, are you crying?” Katie said. I couldn’t speak and just nodded and mouthed, “I’m okay”. Again, she said, “You know you were invited and it’s not too late”. I knew that she was told but also knew the decision to stay home was the right one. In time, I got myself together and as we parted, reached to hug her and the baby and still knew the right choice was to let them go and live their lives.
The tears ( and there were more in the car) just let me know once again the power of love and how family can bring it out at any given moment.
