It’s been fairly hectic around Curtaindom for the past couple of months, but in a good way.
The family has survived the final exams apocalypse and the Creature aka my eldest son is starting to stir from the swamp of note paper filled with endless scrawl. The reason I know this is that the swamp of notes, textbooks and other assorted stationery has stopped spreading like the proverbial primordial ooze and now just sits forlornly in a pile like the blob. Except there’s no quiver, maybe a rustle or two, but certainly no quiver.
Just as Creature finished his final exam, my youngest son, started his own path towards the swamp by undertaking his end of year exams. They finish on Friday and …
I CAN’T WAIT!!!
Don’t get me wrong I think education is vitally important and I am totally supportive. But this year has been an exam marathon. I feel like I’ve been pregnant for 13 months! Lots of practice runs and then finally the real deal and well, now it’s almost over.
So it was with some glee and much relief that the family approached this weekend and my mother’s birthday celebrations. My mother, bless her, is now 80 something and has the most fantastic outlook on life. The past couple of years has not been easy healthwise and the changes become more obvious with every passing week. But through it all, she has maintained her peace, graciousness and giving heart. She has also maintained her relationship with my with boys, her grandsons.
- Matti (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Purely and simply, they love her and of course…. she, them. You can see it in the way they support her when she walks, when they drop in on her unannounced for some TLC that only grandmothers do and the highest compliment of all, they have made her their Facebook friend. How much more evidence of her being teenage royalty can you get than a Facebook link? My mum is just plain cool. There is no other way to describe her, well there is actually … I would also say she’s super nice.
This adoration from my boys makes my toes tingle, my mouth curl upwards at the sides and my heart beat a little faster. Observing my boys and my mother together and interacting is one of my greatest joys. Probably because this experience was denied me as all my grandparents had passed before I was born. How wonderful to have the opportunity to seek out wisdom without judgement, to hear stories from another time and country and to have someone sneak you parental contraband!
The enduring relationship is made even more poignant because when they were born my boys had a full complement of four grandparents and now there are only two.
So whilst there was no disco dancing and no rock music at this party, we had a great time and made some happy memories. At this stage, every birthday is a milestone birthday and every birthday is a true cause for celebration.
And the thing that really made by toes tingle? This is what my eldest wrote in his grandmother’s birthday card:
Dear A,
I love you and I will always do anything for you.
Love J
Well just pick me up and call me mush!
Did you have grandparents in your life as a child? How do you view interactions between your parents and your children?
Raising the Curtain 
So nice that your sons have such a special relationship with your mother. Grandparents are so important in kids’ lives. They offer a reprieve of sorts. I only wish I had sat down and really learned more about my own grandparents while I had the chance. We don’t always take interest in their rich pasts until it’s too late.
You’re right, sometimes wisdom is required and you need to grow the insfrastructure to achieve that. It’s always an interesting trip looking at childhood experiences through adult eyes.
Very much so.
By the way, thanks so much for the FB share. Very nice of you!
Oh, what fine young men you have raised..proceed to mush. I did not have grand parents growing up, so I also enjoy the interaction my children have with my mother as well. My mother will be 86 on Friday…a very hip 86 that is. Best wishes to your mom on this wonderful milestone and many many more : )
Thanks Lisa…there are moments when the boys just really, really amaze me and make me super proud.
My mum’s not quite at 86 yet, but not far behind. I love the concept of a hip mum. I only hope the boys say that about me when I’m 86!
My children were(are) blessed to have had wonderful Grandparents. My parents were the more hands on type. Goodness knows my father played endless games of Candyland and Monopoly when the kids were little. Through the years their bond deepened and now that both of my parents are gone, the loss to my kids is enormous. Thank goodness they have wonderful memories to carry them through the rest of their lives.
You have good boys 🙂
Thanks Lynne, my parents were the same, totally into my kids’ lives and getting down on their level. It was wonderful to watch and I hope my boys will realise how priveleged they have been to have that kind of relationship with their grandparents.
Wonderful post. My love to E. and hi to creatures 1 and 2 🙂
Congrats on being done and every success to creature 1 for the HSC.
Thanks Razz, I’ll pass on the greetings, maybe we can all catch up when you guys are here 🙂
My grandparents passed before I could get to know them. I have a slight memory of both of my grandmothers, but they are only slight. My daughters had four grandparents until they were in middle school and then we had several years of seeing them pass. I love this post, I pray for this type of relationship with my baby grandson. I recently went to a festival at home and saw an older woman holding hands with her grandson. They both had on goofy hats. They were holding hands and skipping with joy. I looked at my hubby and said, “That is the kind of granny I want to be.” That memory and this post serve as an example of what I hope to be for my little one. Thank you. DAF
Thanks DAF, your comment hit home with me also. I have no doubt that is the type of grandma you will be. You’ve given me a great idea for a follow up post as well. But grandparent/grandchild sillyness is in my view one of the ultimate bonds.One of the greatest things in life is to be with someone where you can just be yourself.
so true, my grandson even likes my singing voice, which in itself is a miracle!! love this post.
My your toes forrever tingle. What a great post. Thanks for sharing. BTG
Thanks OF, you are a sweety. Hope life is treating you well and giving you many positive toe tingling moments :).
What a great post! I can feel the love and admiration through your words. I was lucky enough to have one really rockin’ Memere when I was growing up. She’s been gone for years, but I remember her fondly and often.
It’s been a while since I’ve been here in the blogosphere so I wanted to stop in and say “Hi”. Hope all is well with you and the family and you’re able to enjoy a peaceful holiday season. Also wanted to let you know that I’ve decided to move my blog over to Blogger instead of hosting here on WP.
I have thoroughly enjoyed having you as a follower and hope that you’ll be able to find time to check out the new URL and decide to follow along again.
The new URL is:
http://www.finallywendywanders2.blogspot.com
In the meantime, enjoy that wonderful mother of yours and of course your very sweet boys!
Thanks Wendy, have missed you and your wit. Hope all good in your world and I’m keen to hear if you are still on the move in that wonderful country of yours, with your hubby. Will add your new blog to my reader and will then check it out. if we don;t talk beforehand have a wonderful holiday season yourself, hope it’s filled with family and adventure :).
Wendy, If you swing by again and read this, just tried leaving a comment on your new blog, but it won’t let me through the word captcha :(. Love the new look!
I saw one set of grandparents every other year, and the other set once a year. My kids had my in-laws involved in their lives regularly. If I become a grandma, I’m planning on doing whatever it takes to be an involved! (even if it means wearing holes in the knees of my pants or sitting in that tiny wagon!) 😉
Same here. My Dad was the absolute best grandpa model. He would get down and dirty with the kids without hesitation. I hope I’m going to be half as good a grandparent, although I can wait until that happens. The boys are only in thier teens :).