I consider myself to be very lucky that I still have 3 living grandparents, one Na (my other one passed away 2 years ago now) and two Nannies. I see my maternal Nan often as she still drives down to Somerset to stay with my Mum so the boys and I see her about once every two months. However, my paternal grandparents live in Thatcham and will not drive this far and, as my Dad now lives in Cornwall, it is just too far for them, and so sadly I do not see them very often.
When I was younger my family and I lived just a few miles, in the next town to be exact, from my paternal grandparents, and about 30 minutes from my maternal ones, so as we were growing up, my brother and I saw them all regularly. Probably every weekend infact! We had a wonderful relationship with both sets, and I am so grateful for that because I think grandparents play such an important role in our lives, and I have a wealth of special memories to look back on fondly. As I am sure they do too.
Then in 1986, when I was 12, my parents moved my brother and I down here to North Devon and although my Dad’s parents did drive down to see us for a few years, by the time I was at college they felt the journey to visit us was too far and so they stopped coming here to stay. Therefore, ever since I have not seen then very often and since the boys came along they have only seen Burton 3 times and Jenson once, which I know is not good and makes me feel very guilty. However, last Friday the boys, their Daddy and I travelled to Thatcham to see Nanny for lunch and we stayed for a couple of hours after. They behaved themselves so much better than I thought they would (phew!!), and we played some games and chatted and it was really lovely. Nanny loved talking to them and they enjoyed their time with her.
My Na is now in a nursing home because at the age of 92 he needs 24 hour care. He is fine in that he does not suffer with any illness or dementia, but his body has let him down and he is incontinent now and unable to stand for very long. My Nanny could not manage him at home so he was moved, reluctantly, a year ago to a home just a few minutes from their house. We arrived at his room a little before 4pm and he said he had been clock watching all afternoon waiting for us to arrive!! Jenson was a bit hot and tired by this point and sat on my lap, but Burton – well I could have kissed him because he just chatted away to Na and showed him the Lego he had brought, and was so sweet and lovely. Bearing in mind that Burton has never chatted to him before (he was so little on the previous 3 visits to meet his great grandparents), it was if he saw him all the time! You can see the photo of the boys on the window sill – and their new photo was stuck on the wall on the other side – a proud great grandad indeed!
(Burton took the last photo!)
It was a lovely few hours and Nanny and Na were so chuffed to see us and I could not stop smiling all the way home at how well it had gone, and what a special time it had been. I am so pleased that the boys now understand who I am referring to, whenever I speak of them aswell. I know that I must not leave it another 2 1/2 years until we see them again either!!!
Photos and memories to treasure always 🙂
It’s lovely that you got to make these memories with your boys.
Aaahhh what a special day and gorgeous photos of you all xx
Aww that is so lovely x