Friday 29 September 2017

Letter to a Granddaughter.









Dear Granddaughter,
It's nearly five years since you entered my life, changing it for ever in ways that are entirely good.
I remember thinking at the time of your birth how amazing it was that such a tiny person could have such a profound effect and, well........it's gone on.
I try to think why the whole experience of being a grandmother is so different from that of being a mother, and in my case I think it's because I have time to reflect. As a parent there is not a lot of that going on.
I don't see you and your little brother so frequently, but after one of your weekend visits, while I'm gardening, walking, pottering around I think of you and remember what you've told me, how you've responded to me, and all the many questions you've asked and observations you've made.
(Little Brother isn't talking just yet, apart from 'cat, Daddy, banana', but we can build a meaningful exchange with that.)

Last weekend you and I talked about magic, and whether there is real magic or not. I confessed to writing the tiny fairy notes.
You said, "Yes, I thought it was you, but it's a good game, isn't it?"
Yes. It's a good game, but a better one followed when I taught you a couple of 'magic' tricks and you gave us all a conjuring show. The magic part of the magic is to keep the patter going and not to give away your secrets.
A good lesson for life? Aw heck, what have I taught you now?

You are concerned for me, living alone.
You asked me, "Do you talk to people when I'm not here? Not on the telephone, real people, I mean?" I told you I have friends, people come to see me, I go to see them, but I'm also happy on my own. A better lesson for life, hopefully.
Then you said, "Granny, I've had such a good idea. You could have a baby!"
I explained that old ladies can't have babies because they are meant to be grannies, not mothers. Old ladies can't do all the energetic things that mothers can do, but you fixed me with a steely glare and said, "Well, I think any baby in the world would be happy to live here!"
When you're a lot older you will realise what that remark meant to an arthritic old lady.

But next week you will be in school full-time.
How can that be, this incredible growth and development when it seems only a few weeks ago that you were learning to walk, just like Little Brother now?
And he too will race away, over the hills and vales of life, learning new skills every hour of every day.

Be safe and happy, both of you, on your feet, on your bikes, with your friends, in your classrooms.
And Granddaughter, thank you for  nearly five years of all the right sort of magic.

With love from Granny.



16 comments:

  1. Oh, how lovely! And dare I say magical! I do sometime envy my friends with grandchildren more than I envied them when they had young children. And I also envy them their grown up children who have turned out to be such nice people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Leslee, good to see you again. Thank you for the kind comment, Yes, no mention of my very nice, very grown up adult sons but there's a glimpse of one of them swinging with his daughter.(After a weekend with grandchildren I often sleep for twelve hours.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Starting Over and gz; thank you so much for your comments. We are very lucky, aren't we? I feel so privileged to know these cheerful, thoughtful, charming little people.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Heartmelting.
    Your letters to her have melted my heart, just as she (and her brother) does yours.

    ReplyDelete

  5. What a precious letter for her to keep and re-read when she's all grown up. And a perfect picture to go with it...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Granny Judith,

    You are a wonderful granny.


    http://whiskeyriver.blogspot.com/2017/09/fairy-tale-logic-fairy-tales-are-full.html

    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  7. E.C. Molly, Zhoen and mm: I am really touched by your comments. I am such an infrequent blogger these days, it's wonderful that you are all still there and reading. Thank you all very much. I am a lucky old granny in so many ways.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can imagine that steely glare and wouldn't dare argue. Not that I would — she's right.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ah, what a lovely expression of what I, too, feel. Grannyhood is such a privilege.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pam: thank you. I didn't expect to find such richness in grannyhood. I wish you all the very best with your growing brood.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm sorry that I missed this post when it was published. Of course I agree with every word. I also hope that you continue to post now and then. I'm spending less time in Blogland too but I always enjoy your posts.

    ReplyDelete