Milestones

There are many milestones in your life. A baby's first steps. Your first kiss. Saying I do.

Two weeks from Saturday, I board a plane for Hawaii to take my place in the ceremony as the Mother Of The Groom. My son will experience a milestone in his life on December 17, 2005. He and Nicole will stand before their family and friends and commit themselves to each other. And in approximately 7 months, my son will reach another milestone. He will become a father. I had to stop and ponder those words. My son will become a father. Wow. Anyway...not only will he reach a milestone, so will I when this wonderful miracle makes me a Grandmother. I knew he and Nicole wanted to start a family right away, but I wasn't ready to hear the words, "Mom, are you sitting down?" this soon. I can't find the words to express my happiness at my son's news. Nicole is such a wonderful young lady and the two of them will make wonderful parents. I can only hope I will be half the grandmother mine was. My own mother died when my children were 2 and 4 years old. For the brief time she was here for my children, she couldn't have loved them more. She was a very special lady.

I haven't done a list since the first one. It seems appropriate to have a list for this occasion, so here goes.

Five Things I Will Teach My Grandchild

1. I'll do everything I can to teach my grandchild to show love. You may feel love for someone, but letting that love be known in different ways is so important. You don't have to say I love you all the time. I want to make sure he or she knows how important it is to let the people she loves know it...in one form or another.

2. I will tell that child all about his or her heritage. My father immigrated from Greece when he was 6 years old. My mother's heritage is French and Scotch-Irish. He or she will know the importance of knowing where your roots are.

3. I want to teach him or her to fingerpaint. Yes, fingerpaint. It's the most expressive you can be and requires no talent. The artwork created will be framed and hung on my walls with pride.

4. I want to help teach him or her to appreciate the natural beauty where he or she lives. It's so easy to take for granted the gorgeous beaches, plants and scenery of Kauai, so I want to be able to point out a beautiful flower, a spectacular sunset or a beautiful cloud formation. These things make you smile and we can't smile enough!

5. I want to teach him or her to love Mom and Dad no matter what. I learned with my son that you never give up on a child. He sure gave me a hard time when he was growing up, but I never gave up on him. I knew there was a wonderful person under that tough exterior. I was right. I hope to teach his child that no matter how mad you get, how frustrated you may feel or how you may want to slap the crap out of your daddy, do not ever give up on them!

I'm sure there's more I want to teach my grandchild, but my lists are limited to 5. Otherwise I'd be here all night rambling on about what I want to do for my first grandchild. What special days are ahead!