Ann
Ipock
Humorist,
author, speaker
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Georgetown
Times
A new granddaughter
reminds me of peace that passeth understanding
By Ann Ipock September
21, 2005
If you think there is nothing more special than welcoming your very first
grandchild, guess again! How about welcoming your second grandchild? I
guess with grandchildren, the old saying is true: “It just keeps
getting better and better.”
I’ve just returned home from a week-long trip to Raleigh with our
daughter and her family: Kelly and Chuck, Madison (our 4-year old granddaughter)
and Carly Ann (our 3-week-old granddaughter and my namesake).
To sum it up: I’ve never played so hard and worked so hard! Though
there’s no denying it is pure work raising children of any age (diapers,
feedings, car pools, meals, naps, play time, bath time, doctor visits
and bed time), it is also the most rewarding and joyful experience I’ve
ever known.
The best part for grandparents is you can spoil kids rotten (I once heard
you can’t spoil kids rotten, but rather only spoiled them good)
and give them back at the end of the day.
When I’m around, I tend to forget the usual rules of parenting,
but sometimes this lackadaisical attitude can get me into trouble. On
a recent visit, I sent Madison to gym class in her pajamas and I wrote
about that in this column. Well, I nearly topped that story when, on this
last visit, Madison asked for a breath mint. I gave her permission to
ransack my pocketbook as I sat nearby.
This is her favorite activity — she adores putting on my lipstick,
writing in my mini-notebook attached to my key chain and digging out my
loose change.
I told her I thought there was one remaining mint in the side pocket and
to help herself. Using her tiny fingers, she held it up and happily placed
it in her mouth; but she immediately spit it out, making a face. “Grammy,
this is NOT a breath mint!” she said, while admonishing me. She
was exactly right. It was a chalky, lemon-tasting tablet. This inept Grammy
Gram was passing off antacids as candy.
Oops!
Since there was a new baby in the house, I tried all the harder to include
Madison in all facets of our daily routines.
Upon arrival, I presented her with a new baby doll of her own (the size
of a newborn) which she quickly tossed aside, instead focusing on the
real baby in the house.
Madison was a terrific big sister, too, I might add, holding Carly gently
in her lap, helping to change diapers and even brushing her hair softly.
Carly was born with a tuft of beautiful golden-brown hair that makes her
look like a Kewpie doll. (Or, as my friend Betty says, she looks like
a fuzzy duck.)
Madison and I spent hours bonding: on the playground, at the pool, shopping
for groceries and cooking supper.
I can’t tell you how many times I watched the movie “The Little
Mermaid” and get this — a James Taylor video, another favorite
of hers. She loves “Carolina On My Mind” and it’s a
good thing since her daddy is a huge UNC fan.
As for Carly, well, what can I say?
She is perfect in every way! Holding a newborn baby brings this to mind:
the peace that passeth all understanding. Whenever I would place her gently
on my chest, rocking her and soothing her from those worrisome hiccups,
tummy aches or just cranky spells, I could feel all of my own cares and
worries slip away. This is surely a gift from God that I don’t take
for granted. I look at Carly’s dark blue almond-shaped eyes, her
heart-shaped face with the rosebud lips and her warm, olive complexion;
and I remember another little girl, who, 30-some years ago also stole
my heart and made me the proudest Mama in the world: her own mother, Kelly.
And then, 14 years later, we were blessed with another daughter, Katie.
Girls seem to run in our family!
Though Madison and Carly are only four years apart (they nearly had the
same birthday, but missed it by three days), Kelly and Katie are close
in their own ways. Kelly enjoys hearing about college, boyfriends and
future career plans from her little sister. Katie enjoys hearing about
family, social life and friends from her big sister.
Thankfully, Katie was able to
drive up from USC right after Carly’s birth. I was delighted to
have us all under the same roof sharing and caring, laughing and reminiscing;
and I’ve got the pictures to prove it. But don’t worry: I’m
only carrying one around in my pocketbook to show everyone. It’s
right next to the new pack of breath mints I’m saving for Madison
as a peace offering.