Alex and I did not get to meet our oldest grandchildren until this year. Long story, but suffice it to say, they had absolutely nothing to do with us not meeting them. We met Darrin, our one and only grandson, who is 7, almost 8, and wise beyond his years, at my father-in-law's funeral in September. Granted, not the best place or occasion to introduce yourselves as grandparents. He was, understandably, a bit quiet. Then, in October, we drove down to the Florida panhandle for his big sister's 9th birthday party. Raina, as her name implies, is the queen of any situation. And the birthday party was a big improvement over the funeral the previous month. We got to know Darrin a little bit better, and of course saw Raina preside over her birthday celebrations. But we still did not really have a good connection.
So, we do what all normal grandparents do...we went shopping at Gymboree and A Children's Place and bought lots of cool clothes, and we invited them all up for a long weekend at our home in North Carolina! I have never seen my husband so freaking excited...he was actually accomplishing things on his Honey-Do list, he was so excited. He was helping me clean! He even was showering and shaving! Seriously, he was over the moon excited to reestablish ties with our daughter, and to get to know her children. In our home.
They arrived on a Friday night...super excited, super pumped about the long ride up here. They almost wouldn't go to sleep, they were so excited. Over the next four days we crammed in so much activity I really have no idea where we got the time--hiking, driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, more shopping, ice cream sundaes, cuddling humane society kittens, more hiking, playing with legos, countless games of WAR!, learning to play chess, making our own Christmas ornaments out of air-dry clay, making personal pan pizzas, playing with a new friend, watching all three Madagascars, cuddling on laps, entertaining neighbors and guests, hanging out at OP Taylor's (only the best toy store on the planet!), helping make the dogs their breakfast, and got lots and lots of hugs.
And what amazed me most of all, was the way the names just rolled off their tongues, "Nana and Pappy" They accepted us for who we are with no questions asked. Unconditionally. No explanations required. No "where have you been for the past xxx years?" Just love. Smiles. Pure adorable cuteness. Too bad it only lasted for five years.
No comments:
Post a Comment