The other day I was sitting with my grandson while he was doing his homework and one of the things he had to do was to ask three people to name something they considered important enough to be put away in a treasure trunk.
When he asked me, I wanted to say that I would keep all his smiles, his hugs, his laughter, his kisses, the conversations we’ve had along the years and all the wonderful memories we’ve shared. Of course this was no proper answer for school homework so I told him that I would keep my whole family in the treasure trunk as this was what I considered to be most precious in my life.
Because I don’t want to forget or confuse these memories as I grow older, for the last few years I have been writing him a letter where I note down all those things that make me so happy and that I might not remember quite as clearly as the years go by. And I know that when he grows up he may retain a vague feeling of being loved very much and of having a good time with me, but he certainly won’t have a precise recollection of his early childhood years.
I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by children most of my adult life. First I had my own children as well as a niece and nephew of nearly the same age and they practically grew up together. Then came other nieces and nephews that went on to fill in the spaces left by those who were growing up, and so it went almost until the time when my grandson was born. Given the number of children involved, I sometimes get confused about who said or did what and which anecdote belongs to which child.
Now that I’m a grandmother and a bit older than I was then, everything this child does seems extraordinary to me… (Grandmother’s privilege…) so I’m writing it all down. Pretty soon he’ll grow older and being with me will no longer be much fun, so I’ll just reminisce reading my notes while I wait for him to grow up enough to want to spend time with me again and listen to my stories of when he was a little boy.
Nora's Blog... Sixty and Still Going Strong!! 