perspective. on grandparents. and distance.
There are people who are blessed to live near their extended family.
I have friends who regularly are privileged to have Grandma babysit at no cost!
When they plan an overnight stay sans children, they just let the kids have a slumber party with Grandpa and Grandma, who live down the street, across town, within an hour’s drive.
But those people aren’t us.
For all but about three years both sets of grandparents have always lived far far away. Wyoming. Ohio. Florida.
Not a few minutes away.
Not a few hours away.
Shoot, sometimes not even an entire day’s drive away.
Which means that when we see grandparents, we’re all pretty excited.
This past weekend the Ohio family, Kevin’s side, made the long trek south to hang out with us here.
We were honored and grateful they made the journey and we loved hanging out on the porch.
Having a campfire at night.
Eating dinner together.
Watching them spoil our children a bit.
Playing at the lake all day.
Just being in the same room.
In the same state.
I’d like to preach a sermon – but I’ve done that too many times before.
Anyway, my message would just be this:
Don’t take your near by family for granted.
It’s not a burden to be struggling through the ups and downs of life together.
It’s not a hardship to balance time with your parents and time with your friends.
Your mother-in-law isn’t out to get you, to ruin your children’s diets or wreck their sleeping schedule.
It’s a gift.
To do life together
with the people who raised you
as you raise the people
who will one day be talking about
the people who raised them.
11 Comments
Penny
Lacey-your words ring so true. I am thankful that I can see my grandbabies often. However-I miss my Hannah! So as a mom I have both situations and I try to make the best of it. The week I spent in SC with Hannah was wonderful and precious, the moments I spend with her sisters and their children are just as precious. As a working grandma, sometimes it's hard to fit it all in, but I do and it's worth it. Thanks for this wonderful post!
LaceyKeigley
I know you do miss your hannaH – she's a good one.
And I am so glad, as I am sure your daughters are too – that they are blessed with such a wise, fun-loving, nature-teaching grandma as yourself!
Rachel
Preach it, my friend! I am so grateful all of our parents are within a 45 minute drive. Keith interviewed for a job in Pittsburgh last month, and all I could think about was how lonely I would feel with no help nearby. Who would I call if I got sick, or just really couldn't handle my kiddo being two? I also had a conversation today, though, with my BFF about how much I want more kiddos, because I have found five or six to be so much easier than one (eventually, when they can play together).
I do hope you have good friends who can help you and watch your kiddos for free. We are blessed with a network of friends who "trade" babysitting favors. I also read of a wonderful date idea: put the kids to bed and then go out while a fellow mom comes over. You get a date and she gets quiet time to read or just be… Then the next time she puts her kids down, you go over while they go out, and you get some quiet time. I plan to do that with said BFF once my kiddo can figure out how to sleep before 9:30! (cursed sleeping disorder :/. )
As for loving my momma, I do, precisely because I understand time is precious and short. And if you ever come to indy, I will gladly watch your kids and share my momma with you!!
LaceyKeigley
I do think more kids are easier in so many ways – and especially in the playing together way.
We do have good friends – and we do get some free childcare. We are trying out some share-babysitting ideas, but we still pay for childcare too (and that's pricey – I'll tell you what.) I always feel like I should pay so much more with so many little people.
I'll take you up on that if we ever head to Indy. Thanks!! 🙂
Allie P
I hear you!!! I KNOW we are blessed to live near my parents. We only spent 3 years with kids away from family, now, I can't imagine life without. They are a huge reason we re-located to SC from CA 5 years ago. This said, we just went away for 2 nights, my parents were at the beach, so we had to find other people to watch our 3 oldest kids. And it made me GRATEFUL that we have at least 3 families that we trust who are willing to watch our kids overnight. Such a blessing.
I tell my girls quite frequently that they are not allowed to move out of our neighborhood once they get married.
And that they have to have gobs and gobs of babies so I can be a busy Grammy.
LaceyKeigley
Hmm – I need to start programming my children to the fact that they can't move away from where we live. Good call!
Gretchen
I totally agree!!!! I was so thankful for my mom coming to visit us this past week. It is truly a blessing and I am thankful for my mom and the time I got to spend with her. I too long to be closer to my parents, it is not in the cards for us either presently……..I totally agree!!!! Often times I am super jealous of those who do have family around. Glad you got to spend time with that side of the family!!!
LaceyKeigley
I'm always so glad to hear about when your mom comes to visit 0 I know how great that is and I love your mom. I'll never forget the wonderful and silly packages she sent us in college. I have always thought I want to do that for my kids when they are in school!
sal
Amen!
Rhonda H.
Well said! I would love to add that they are also fortunate who, even if the grandparents live far away and don't get to visit often, are at least still on this earth and CAN visit. My children did not have that privilege. I'm so happy that your children have it as at least a partial privilege.
LaceyKeigley
I know – and agree completely – and have preached that lesson a million times too.
Love your mommas people, love your mommas.