Cherish The Time While You Can

I remember when each of my grandchildren were born. We think that our hearts could not love anyone as much as we did our children at their birth. Little did I know that my heart would feel this great love again for each of my grandchildren when they were born. 

The wonderful thing about grandchildren is you can hold them, love them, play with them, but do not have the full-time worry. I have always told people that being a grandparent has many perks that motherhood does not. We can spoil them in a way we could not our own children.

We have taken our grandchildren to spend time with us since they were barely toddlers. We have had wonderful experiences and taken them to so many places over the years. Of course, the first grandchild went to many more places than the others as he arrived five years before his sister. When she arrived, and then his cousin, we took them each for time of their own, and all of them together. What we have done with them has changed as they grew, but their age never stopped us from taking all three at the same time, even when they were 2, 4 and 9.

The first one saw the Children's Museum and Aquarium in Boston, Plymouth Plantation, Lexington and Concord, and Thomas the Train. Together they experienced Fort Ticonderoga, Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Great Escape Indoor Water Park, and a fun-filled day at Old Orchard Beach. For many years they each had their own time with us for fun on the lake and to be spoiled in a way that parents cannot do. Even the simple things like seeing a movie or going to Johnson's Dairy Bar to have ice cream for lunch, create great memories they will have for a lifetime. 

As the years have gone by, and they have grown from children into teenagers and beyond, our visits have changed. As all children do, they become involved in sports, other school activities and friends. Our grandson is now an adult working full-time and we unfortunately do not have the time with him as we once did. The girls still come to spend time in the summer, but it is a shorter visit, and the activities have changed. In some ways the time is more enjoyable as we can have conversations that we could not when they were younger. 

I am hopeful that along the way our time together, and the conversations we have had, will leave a lasting impression. The memories can never be taken away, and perhaps I will have imparted some insight and wisdom that they can take with them in life.

In a very short time, they will all be adults. Our yearly time together will come to an end as they build their own lives and someday start their own families. Although I feel some sadness at the loss of these special times, I will be forever grateful that we have had the opportunity to spend so much time together.

And then, in time, my daughters will get to experience the same joy of being a grandparent that I have had the privilege of for so many years.








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