New Seasons

I’m still trying to get my head around an idea that seems a bit surreal. What is that idea, you ask? Well…I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’m not a young woman anymore. Gone are the days of diapers, and carpool, and sleepless nights (well not quite, but not for the same reasons). My kids are pretty well grown up. Two of them are married, for Pete’s sake! How did this happen? And the idea I’m still trying to get used to? I’m going to be a grandma in July. A grandma! I thought grandmas were old people, and now I’m going to be one. I’m feeling a bit like an “old people”. Is it my imagination, or are there a few new wrinkles on my forehead?

My oldest son is about to be a father for the first time. Every time I think about it I get a little weepy. My little boy who loved toy soldiers, and legos, and playing baseball is going to be raising his own little one soon. The time has gone by so quickly.

I just helped my son and his wife buy their very first home and after they went under contract in December, they announced the great news. The expansion of their little family. That phone call is forever etched in my memory. My husband and I happened to be in the foyer of the Brown Palace after our anniversary dinner. I had silenced my phone so I didn’t answer when they tried to call me. Then my husband’s phone rang.

“Hey dad, we have something to tell you guys. Put your phone on speaker so mom can hear.”

“Ok. What’s up?”

“Well, we wanted to tell you, we’re pregnant. We’re having a baby!”

I try to muffle my shriek, but based on the weird glances, I don’t think I did a very good job. I don’t care. My baby is having a baby!

I couldn’t be more happy for them. They closed on their home in January and now they can bring their little bundle of joy into their new home in July. I am grateful that I could be a part of facilitating the purchase of their first home. My grandchild’s first home. The place that when and if they sell, they will say “we brought our first baby home to this house”.

Family has always been important to me. One of the most important parts of life. It is within the context of family that we learn so many things about life. My husband and I have five children and I’ve been a mom for 27 years now. I’ve dreamed of the day that my kids would be fully raised, happily married, and having children of their own. It was the goal, right? But it feels like it happened so quickly.

It’s a new season for me. My husband and I will be empty nesters in two short years. I wonder how it will feel. I wonder if I’ll get bored in this new season of not having kid responsibilities. I’m excited though. After having been a mom for 27 years, I’ll finally be a mom of all adult children. Independent and responsible for themselves. Weird.

I suppose when the baby arrives in July, I’ll finally get my head around the grandma idea. I’ve had so many people tell me that grandchildren are the absolute best. For now, I have to trust that they are right. I’ll keep you posted.