by P.D. Rivers

Created on: November 27, 2010

"Becoming a grandparent is God's gift to a parent for a job well done"; that is what my aunt used to tell me when she finally got to be a grandmother. I just know that the entire world changed for me the moment my son sent me an email with a picture of the sonogram attached.

I raised my son mostly on my own. I remarried when he was about 15. Up until then I was all there was. That meant that I missed a lot of the things that happen when a child grows up. I missed his first step because it happened at the babysitter's when I was at work. I didn't get to be there for his first play at school because my boss wouldn't let me have the time off. I wasn't there when he formed his childhood friendships because they happened when he was at school or at day care and I was at work. Sometimes I didn't even get to see him much on weekends because I had a second or third job. So watching my grandson grow up IS like a gift from God to me. it is allowing me to be with him from the very first time he opened his eyes. I can be there to see him take his first bite of turkey; his first lick of ice cream. I can show him that jello is shaky but not alive. Although I don't see him everyday because we live 10 hours away from him, I spend all summer and every holiday with him. I get to take him places and watch him discover things for the first time. I will always remember the first time he saw an ostrich and the time he petted a llama. His first oyster, the day he first went swimming and the first day we took him to the aquarium are among my favorite memories so far.

I have also been able to enjoy things with my grandson that I enjoyed with my son and have had the joy of comparing them. The first trip to the circus was wonderful with both of them and twice as much fun when seen through my eyes and my son's watching my grandson. I got to be the brave person that rode the camel with him. We started our own tradition of seeing a movie together; just us; the day after Christmas. Sometimes he and I sneak off and eat ice cream for lunch. I have never missed telling him "good night" and "I love you". When he was a baby I used to nibble his toes and ask if I could have a "toe sandwich". Now that he is five he will often offer me a toe sandwich when I am getting ready to leave to go back home. We spend our time making memories. We take thousands of pictures, videos, and try to write everything down. I get pretty tired sometimes but it sure is worth it.

Another thing that has been great

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