A Violin String And The Love For A New Child

A dear friend told me something interesting that happened to him. He and his wife will become first time grandparents this Nov ember. His sister-in-law, his wife’s sister made a comment to his wife that he and her do not seem so excited about this. Of course, this is not so and this woman either has grandchildren or she wished she does.

He and his wife were on vacation and on the boardwalk, he saw a man, either the father or the grandfather holding a small boy about eighteen months old and the child had his head on the grandfather or father’s shoulder. It struck him and he described it as a “violin string pulled out” and the memory of him carrying his daughters (one the mother-to be now) and he thought how he missed that feeling of the child and adult and he cannot wait for it to happen. He said “I want that.”

This is a beautiful way to describe his feelings at this time. It was not that he did not feel excitement; it was that it was surreal and as the time grows closer, it becomes a fantastic event happening to you. You do not know how to express it. You and your spouse, the grandmother in this case can expound upon it to each other, but not to others yet.

My neighbor told me  forty years ago when her first grandchild was born that her husband, the new grandfather called her ‘sweetheart’ for the first time in thirty years when he saw the child that they had become grandparents of. He was so overwhelmed with happiness and joy that he turned to his wife, the new grandmother and expressed his love for her too.

I had an obnoxious person say to me she had nine grandchildren (of course three were step grandchildren) “you do not have any do you?” I said “I sure do, a six year old and a nine year old, both boys” and I will have a few more soon because my son is newly married.” This was more than nasty, suppose I did not have any at all, why try to impress me she had nine, when three were from her son-in-law’s previous marriage. Big Deal.

My friend in Michigan has one grandchild and his parents; her son and daughter-in-law like to call on her every month or two to watch this little boy for a week or so in their house which is 100 miles away from her home. She is reluctant to say no and so she and her husband who is the step grandfather travel the 100 miles each way and take care of him. It is exhausting with the trip and after seven days, a bit difficult to take care of a one year old at their senior ages. She does it with a smile on her face and that is what grandparents do and delight in.

My son and daughter-in-law are going to his 30th high school reunion in several months and we get the divine pleasure of having their two at our home for the evening. They live out of town and the reunion is here where he lived and went to high school. We have never done this because of the distance of our homes, so it will be the highlight of our year so far. We will have them to ourselves; we will entertain them, take them to the toy store, out to dinner and hug them a lot. They love coming here when they visit with us and their folks are here too. They love it when we come to their home, this time it will be our grandparent love fest. Then their parents will come for them when the reunion affair is over and I am sure we will be sad, but the violin string will be put back in the violin until we see them the next time. As I have mentioned many times, I had no grandparents, so this grand parenting ‘job ‘is extremely precious to me.

The ending of this story is that my friend mentioned above who seemed to his sister-in-law not to be ‘excited’ is sure stimulated and thrilled today because he and the father-to-be, his son-in-law are having a fun job today. They will pick up the new crib from its store and they have the delightful happening of putting it together. Each bolt, screw, nail, bar and whatever there is in a putting together of a crib will be accomplished with love, devotion, excitement, happiness and thrill. Even if as happens a lot of putting together furniture, a screw is missing, there will be no anger at the crib company.

It will be as if a string is out of the violin that will be attached real soon with an extra amount of sweetness. The violin will be whole again, the crib will be together now and the father- to- be and the grandfather to- be will be two happy fellows with the anticipation of their new child and grandchild

Sweet music will be in their ears and heart. One of my editors, who  is expecting a son on the same day as my friend, the first time grandfather is in November, wrote me that he and his wife are really getting excited now and a bit scared to be parents.

Dear friends, do not be scared, just be excited because you have so much to be grateful for and you will know a new love in your life and it will exceed such emotion, caring and happiness, you will be overwhelmed. The violin music you will hear will light up your life forever.