Worth Waiting For

/ Ann Coleman

When our grandson was born two years ago, my husband and I were at the hospital and were able to both see and hold him within hours of his birth.  In the weeks that followed, I often stopped by my daughter’s house to help out so she and her husband could run an errand or take a much-needed nap.  I quickly learned just how strong the bond between a grandparent and grandchild can be, and what a gift that relationship was.

So when I heard that happy news that my son and daughter-in-law were expecting a child in June, I believed that I knew exactly what to expect. I thought that I’d get to meet my new granddaughter at the hospital, and had already told her parents that I’d be more than happy to help out when they brought their new baby home.  Truth be told, I was really looking forward to it.

But then a sneaky little virus wormed it’s way into our lives, and I knew that I wouldn’t be meeting our new granddaughter at the hospital.   When we got the call that she was coming six weeks early, all we could do was pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby.  She spent her first two weeks in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, and when she finally came home, we counted ourselves lucky to see her for the first time outside and from a distance.

The weeks went by and she grew bigger and stronger, and our son and daughter-in-law were very good about letting us visit whenever we asked, even allowing us to hold her.  But something still felt just a little bit “off.”  I loved my new granddaughter, but I didn’t feel as if I actually knew her.  The fact that she was a preemie, born during a pandemic, created some barriers, at least in my mind.  And while I knew it was for the best, it still made me sad.

y5kJkKr%RmG1zaP4cziDcgThat all changed last Saturday, when I had the privilege of babysitting for her for the day.  It was my first time alone with her, and the first time caring for her.  You learn something about a baby when you rock her to sleep, feed her, change her diaper, and sing a silly song to keep her entertained.  And when she (almost) smiles at you, and you feel the unmistakable bond between a grandparent and a grandchild, your heart just sings.  This was exactly what I had been longing for, I finally realized.  I wanted the chance to really know my granddaughter, and to connect with her.

Sometimes we just need to be patient in this life, especially when we’re living through such unsettled times.  I may have had to wait until it was safe, but the time did come when I was able to interact with my granddaughter in all the ways I had envisioned when I first heard my daughter-in-law was pregnant.  And you know what?  She was absolutely worth the wait.

99 thoughts on “Worth Waiting For”

  4. Ann, you have the ability to write as you would speak to someone sitting next to you. Thank you for these conversations. My granddaughter is now three and providing daycare for her three days a week, (the guy side of the equation) has been one of the joys of my life. There is nothing like the first time a child falls asleep in your arms.

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  7. How beautiful Ann! So happy for you
    all and glad for your special time with this amazing little grandbaby. Definitely worth waiting for,, love to you all!🌺💖

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  8. What a heartwarming post Ann. Yes, truly worth the wait. I can just feel the love in your words. Life’s all about these beautiful moments and we grab them when we can. Sending love. 💕

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    • Thanks, Miriam! Moments like those make all the rest of this mess just melt away. She is the bright spot in a rather difficult year, and when I think back on 2020, I’ll always remember the gift that it brought us.

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  21. What a cute little baby your granddaughter is, Ann! My wife and I celebrated the birth of our fifth grandchild this week. We too had to struggle with the consequences of the virus and could not go and visit our sweet little granddaughter. Last night our son had set up for us a Zoom conference and we could see our little Hannah on our computer screen. Have a great day, Ann!

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  22. So happy you were able to spend some one on one time bonding with your precious new granddaughter. I have no doubt that bond will grow stronger & stronger as days pass & your love for each other deepens 💕

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  26. “You learn something about a baby when you rock her to sleep, feed her, change her diaper, and sing a silly song to keep her entertained.” I so believe in this. I believe this to be true in the vocation of nursing as well. When we tend to the very basic care-taking, a bond is developed. It is in the intimacy of this care-taking that trust and intimacy is cultivated and so much more comes to the surface.

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    • That’s a good point! It’s not just babies we get close to when we care for them, it’s anyone. Which is why nurses are so important….good nursing makes the patients feel secure and cared for, which helps them heal faster, I believe.

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  27. She is so adorable ~ can only imagine how powerful this experience would be and look forward to being a grandmother one day. My sons are making me wait 🙂

    Nice to not have the full on full time responsibility but rather a meaningful and timely cameo appearance .

    Peta

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  34. Awe, I understand yearning for that bond. I don’t get to see my granddaughter as often as I would like. I was very close to my grandparents & always thought I would have the same with my grandkids when the time came. Glad for your connection. Precious picture. She’s a doll. I bet you’re so grateful they didn’t name her, Corona.

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    • Ha! Yes, I think that name was in the running for a while, but saner heads prevailed! And I was very close to my grandparents too, so I think that’s probably why I wanted so badly to be close to my grandkids as well. I completely get what you are saying, and I’m sorry that your granddaughter doesn’t live close enough to see her more often. It can be so hard, but I’m betting you’re still a good influence on her!

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  37. I have a feeling the whole world looks better to you now. I’m so glad that everything worked out, and that everyone is healthy. She is a cutie — Zoom meetings are fine, but they don’t come close to actual contact!

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  38. Ah, that is such a lovely sensitive post! Of course things were always going to turn out fine with grannie and granddaughter but it’s hard not to worry! So glad all is well an you have had a full bonding experience xxx

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  39. Besides all the bad things this virus is doing, we have to admit that God is bringing good out of it. For one thing, it’s teaching us not to take anything for granted. Because of it, we are also learning to pare down and repackage our hopes and plans into smaller and simpler yet more meaningful delights. I think many of us are also learning to hold closer to our hearts those precious moments and hours that we get to spend with our loved ones.

    You have such a great heart, Ann, it must have hurt to feel the way you did over that lovely little bundle in green. But I think that was just God’s way of priming your heart in a very special and different way for that precious day with the wee girl of your heart!

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    • I think you are right! The troubles that we endure do awaken us to what is truly important in this world, and help us appreciate what it important and to let go of what is now. Having to wait to make the connection with my granddaughter made it all the more special when it did happen. God does work in ways that we don’t always understand, but we still benefit from!

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  40. Oh I love babies so much and your granddaughter is such a sweetie. Spending time alone with a little baby is such a wonderful experience – I’m glad you finally had the chance to bond with her, Ann.

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    • It really was! I didn’t realize just how strong the bond was before I had my grandson, and I think that’s why I’m so happy to finally get some bonding time with my new granddaughter as well. Thanks for the comment!

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  42. And life goes on even in a pandemic. She is adorable and certainly worth waiting for! So glad you finally got to bond with your grandchild. She will have stories to tell her grandchildren about the year 2020 when she was born. Enjoy your time with her.

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    • Thanks, Barbara! Between her early birth and the pandemic, we felt we needed to be extra careful right after she was born. But now we’re allowed to interact with her, and that’s just wonderful.

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  47. Beautiful post, Ann. Those of us with a certain amount of life experience really need to remember, and then speak about, the value of patience. I never pictured a pandemic as something that would just tend to wear us all down. It’s the slow drip-drip-drip of moments lost–something you don’t even think of when you’re busy stocking up on things like food, canning jars, and tp.

    We drive through the American River canyon to get from the freeway to our place, and of late, it’s become so congested that it’s gotten ridiculous at times traversing it as a highway. But you know what? It’s reasonably close to cities, it’s free, and people can spread out along the river banks for as far as they like to feel safe. So, it’s a pain, but I get it. People are just trying to find ways to make some happy moments in their lives, even with a pandemic calling a lot of the shots.

    This thing won’t last forever. I spent Easter and Mother’s Day absolutely alone this year, but I won’t have to do that every year. Someday we’ll all get back to something we can recognize as normal.

    Including things like spending time with your new granddaughter. : )

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    • I know what you mean, Cathleen! This thing has dragged out for so long, it seems, and it does get hard to have our lives ruled by a virus. So people are just doing whatever they can to enjoy life in these restricted times. I wanted to get lunch at a favorite taco place one day, but the line for the drive-through window was backed up half a block down the street! I’ve never seen it anywhere near that busy, but then I remembered that is one of the few ways that most people can eat restaurant food these days. And you’re right, this won’t last forever and we’ll get to enjoy some of our old freedoms again one day!

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