Sunday 15 December 2013

Letter to a Grand-Daughter now she is One (and a bit)






Dear Small Grand-daughter,

There is no need for you to know about the disconcerting things that have happened to you recently. You can relax, safe in the knowledge that you have been protected and loved and cared for with immense skill.
(But I, your very concerned Grand-mother, have been unable to write this blog, nor write anything else, nor concentrate very well on anything else for the past weeks.)
And you, oblivious, have carried us all along with your cheerfulness, your joy in life, your enthusiasm for fun and your increasing ability to create it, your enjoyment of music and soft toys and whacking things with a mallet, and your interest in other people.

You are such great company these days, finding everything fascinating, needing to comment on everything you see and do.Your favourite word is 'Daddy', and every sight of  him is something wonderful. How clever your mother is, to ensure that it's Daddy who is shouted for in the night (and how clever of your Daddy to not always wake up, no matter how loud the shout).

It's been a tough time for the many people who know you and love you, but hopefully we can all move on and look forward to your first fully-aware Christmas. I know you were here last year, but you were a little bundle with a big voice, needing mainly your mother who was meeting almost all your needs, leaving the rest of us as admiring and devoted spectators.
This year you will know the lights and the colours and the smells and tastes. You will know the thrill of tearing off wrapping paper and finding treasure inside, of glittering decorations and flickering candles. We will be infected by your joy, seeing things afresh through your eyes, for you bring new life and hope to us all.

Happy, happy Christmas, Little One,
and profound and grateful thanks to the skilled people here.
With love from Grandma.








12 comments:

  1. Glad all is well now and hope you all have a lovely time. Children at your grand-daughter's age are such a delight aren't they?

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  2. So lovely to see you back. Glad your little grand daughter has made it through her first year. What a sweet picture of her!

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  3. That's a whole body smile. Very funny.

    Courage to all of you, whatever your troubles, I'm, we're, all rooting for you.

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  4. Having spent the summer in Bristol whilst my husband was undergoing a bone marrow transplant at Bristol Children's Hospital, I can echo your praise of the wonderful care to be found there.
    Hope your grand daughter makes good progress.
    Stella

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  5. Marigold: yes, such a tonic to be with someone who lives without fear - totally in the moment.

    Molly: thank you. There have been lots of preoccupations, but it's been a wonderful year.

    Zhoen: Thank you. She's a natural clown and can really play to an audience!

    Stella: thank you for reading and commenting. All good wishes to you and your husband.

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  6. That is an enchanting photo. Long may she retain, and share, that delight in life.
    I hope that the disconcerting things and times are firmly in the past for you all.

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  7. Beautiful sentiments! Thank you so much for sharing and God bless,
    Merry Christmas!

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  8. Oh dear, I do hope she's fine now.

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  9. How adorable! Sorry that it's been a scary time for you, but it sounds like she's been in good hands and things are looking up again. Wonderfully in time for Christmas, a true gift. Enjoy!

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  10. I am so glad that your little granddaughter is going to be having a whale of a time at Christmas! Yes, this is the lovely age, when they first realise that there is something and special and wonderful about Christmas - or their own birthdays!

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  11. She's gorgeous.

    Hoping all of you have a magical time. Living in the moment is something children are supremely good at ......

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  12. Thank you all for your kind comments. This was indeed the best Christmas gift ever after a difficult time for us all, but especially for her parents who have also (mostly) been positive and cheerful throughout. Their attitude is obviously infectious.

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