Living Next Door to My Grandsons

A Priceless Gift

Photo by Holly Landkammer on Unsplash

I came downstairs early that morning to fix breakfast before I took my husband to the hospital. The heart surgeon was going to insert a stent - the support placed temporarily inside a blood vessel to aid healing. When I turned on the light and looked into the family room, I saw a five-year-old boy sleeping on the sofa. My grandson, who lived next door, wanted to make sure he saw Gramps before we left for the hospital. That night, he insisted on sleeping on the floor in my bedroom because Gramps was still in the hospital, and he didn’t want me to be alone.

My grandsons were one and four years old when their parents purchased a new house. Their grandparents - Dan and I - bought the house next door four months later.

This situation would not work for everyone, but it was a blessing for us. I was there when the boys were born, and we were a large part of their lives as they grew into young men with their own families.

We were on a bowling team for two years and played in several tournaments. We played euchre - the card game - night after night.

We attended their baseball and hockey games, birthday parties, graduations, and weddings. I have so many rich and special memories.

Our older grandson lived with us in Washington while he attended college.

He, his wife, and their 2-year-old daughter live about 20 miles away. I see them regularly. Our younger grandson and his wife live out of state, but I’ll see them soon. We talk and FaceTime regularly.

Not every grandmother has the opportunity to know her grandchildren as well as I have, and I cherish every minute of those times. For me:

And now there is an added bonus: a great-grandchild I see, love, and play with regularly.

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