The Glorious Gooey Center

Life is a ball of snapping rubberbands with a soothing center of delicious cream-filling.  I think of it as mostly sweet goodness with the occasion surprising sting.

Last week, I got more than my fill of the glorious gooey center.

Girl was returning to work and she asked me if I would consider coming for the week to ease the transition.

Would I?

~ahem~

WOULD I?!

~try not to squeal, Mrs. Tucker.  hold it together~

Sure, I’d be happy to help.

~inward twirly jiggity twirl~

The facts are these:

* It was a help for Boy and Girl.  Transitions can be a hard head slap, especially with babies.

* Sweet E is a joy with a smile that can melt gold.

* Fine.  That last one is not entirely fact.

* It was my absolute joy to #1 be asked and #2 to be able to help all my kiddos.

No matter what stage our children are in, no matter how young or old they are, mothers want to help; it’s coded in our mommy DNA.  To be asked to come and care for my baby’s baby makes me cry with joy.  No really.  I’m such a crybaby.

After a week’s worth of getting up at the crack of smack (do y’all know it’s DARK at 6am?!), jibber-jabbering with a baby all day, having dance parties (it’s never too young to dance), discussing important baby issues like clean diapers and MORE MILK!, cleaning house, getting peed on, making meals, and just generally livin’ the life (as Husband used to say), I came away with the bigger gift.

Those kiddos can thank me all they want, but I got to nuzzle a 7-week-old baby for an entire week, sing silly songs, coo (that’s right, c-o-o) and dream about what we’ll do once he’s walking and actually talking.

Bliss.

After the week came to an end, on my long drive home, I contemplated my earlier life, my younger self; I was certain I’d never marry nor have children.

I know people say that, but I was convicted…until I met Husband and he changed everything.  Then Boy came along and suddenly everything I never expected was my life; I was over-the-moon happy.

As I juxtaposed what I thought I’d never have with what I actually have in my older life, with my older self, I am stupid-rich with love, contentment and happiness.  Had I closed myself off to the possibility that I could have a life I couldn’t envision, I would have missed this glorious gooey center.

Today, I have a daughter-in-law, for whom I have growing admiration and love as I watch her journey into mommyhood with her son and mine.

I have a son that I see through new eyes of mutual parenthood and his ever-expanding infatuation with his child, and love him more, which is saying quite a lot.

And, I have a Husband who unabashedly sings his grandson to sleep through Facetime and Skype, bringing me to tears in his absolute devotion to his family.

I have lived long enough to know that life isn’t always good.  It’s not always happy.  Sometimes joy and hope are absent.  I have lived all those times…but this is not one of them.

It is such a surprise to me that this is my life.  I would happily, and with no hesitation, give up everything I have for these people, these stunning, lovely, heart-grabbing people.

I am blessed beyond what I deserve.

I’m gonna grab this glorious gooey center and squeeze it until it explodes all over us, because soon enough I’ll feel the sting of the snapping rubberband.

But, my sweet babies, not today.

Today there is nothing but joy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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