I return home from Arizona, and a few days later, I receive a phone call from Jared, my oldest son. He and his wife Emily are due with their first baby in one week . . . and the labor contractions are 5 minutes apart.
I started to hyperventilate.
Of course, I went into labor, too. I had to call a friend and have her talk me into calmness, relaxation, and taking deep breaths. I’m glad I had Lamaze classes, with seven children.
You know moms, now-a-days, don’t feel the pain. It’s called epidurals. How is this possible? And where was Dr. Epidural during my 38-hour labors?
Now, I’m getting worked up. I need to stay calm.
The phone rings. The contractions are now four minutes apart. Jared is taking the grand dog Ani to Emily’s parents’ house. I’m getting anxious, desperate, . . . I can’t take the tension.
I have to do something meaningful to help me through the stress. That’s it. It’s time. I’m out the door.
I have to have a pedicure and . . . before you know it my feet are soaking in a blue tub . . . as Jessica is helping me to unwind.
Of course, I make the friends and family calls. I call my mom, the daughters, Carol, my sons, and even mention it to the pharmacist. Why not, he knows most of my personal life.
I finally drift off to pedicure paradise and the phone rings again.
Jared and Emily are at the hospital and Dr. Epidural has done his work. Jared also mentions that the monitors are attached to the baby’s head.
At this point, I’m thinking that I need some monitors, myself . . . or at least some supervision. I shouldn’t even be driving, especially with these toe dividers and new polish. What if I smudge my nails?
OK, it’s all right. I’ve had four grandsons and one granddaughter. I should be a pro. Number six can’t be any different than one through five.
I have a quote on my bedroom wall. It reads, “When a Child is Born, so is a Grandmother.”
Bring a grandmother is wonderful. It’s like getting a second chance. Sometimes, as parents, we try really hard, but we’re not perfect.
It takes practice parenting, instructing, regulating, restraining, correcting, controlling, chastising, and loving. We only hold them in our arms for a short time. But we can hold them in our hearts forever.
Therefore, we can easily make up for our mistakes, through love for our grandchildren, and more love toward our children.
Truly, the greatest joy, we can find in life, is within our own family.
And my newest little joy weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces.
Congratulations Jared and Emily!
