The other day I was
sitting talking to my oldest granddaughter, when she mentioned that she will be
20 years old in December. That shocked me…20 years old!!!! Wow…where did the
time go??? I know that I was busy and watching some of my grandchildren. Five
years after Hannah was born, 22 other grandchildren came along. So maybe that
was the answer…like everyone else, all those grandchildren kept me blurry and
busy.
When Hannah was born, I
was 20 years younger than I am today. Since she was the first grandchild on
both sides of the family, her other grandparents and I volunteered to babysit
while her parents worked. It was fun. I still had kids in high school living at
home, who would help me out when they were around. They actually enjoyed having
a little baby, then a toddler around.
We split two days a
week to watch Hannah. It was all year round, which was fine with me. Hannah was
really an easy baby to have in the house. I looked forward to watching her
those two days. Hannah kept me busy and she fine-tuned me for what would
be…more grandchildren! Five years later, I would watch her baby sister and also
another granddaughter at the same time. Crazy me!!! It was like having a toddler
and a set of twins. I was prepared for that, having my own twins and toddlers
at the same time.
I can’t believe that
Hannah will be finishing her first year at Point Park College this year. Time
has really moved. I have 22 other grandchildren. I am babysitting one day a
week for my youngest daughter’s two little boys…one who is a few months old and
the other is 2-1/2 years old. It is a little harder but everything is the
same…bottle feeding, changing diapers, and amusing them. But running after the
older boy is a little harder on the old knees.
I still pull out books
to read, coloring books and crayons, chalk, playdough and Fisher Price Little
People and Farm animals. When the weather is nice, I take Will out and let him
play in my back yard, while his brother, Nolan, is napping in the house.
Yes, I pretty much do
all the same things with the boys that I used to do with Hannah. I do miss the
little Hannah who inspired me to write about her and then the other little
grandchildren. I have to say that Hannah is special because she was my first
grandchild. I love her deeply as I love the others. I love her smile, laughter,
and her art work! She is one in a million and my oldest granddaughter and I
know for a fact that there will always be a special bond between us.
But for now, I do have
to thank all my kids for all those grandchildren who have kept me somewhat
agile and young!
By the way, my youngest
granddaughter, Mina Noelle, was born on February 28, 2016…welcome to our big
family Mina. There is no doubt that you will be loved and cherished!
