I’m spending the weekend with my husband Barry taking care of my two oldest grandchildren, who are ages 8 and 10. I’m suddenly realizing that this is a different set of tasks than in the past. My relationship with them has changed!
They are no longer young children, and need almost no physical care. Sometimes they even tell us when they need to go to bed (what a shock). I still have to be sure they eat on time, bathe, get dressed to leave the house on time and some other tasks. They dress themselves, do their homework, and show me how things are done around their house.
So, now my relationship is finding creative ways to spend time together. My granddaughter (the 8 year old) and I are spending much of this time alone together, as my grandson and husband are at a soccer tournament. We have been shopping, had lunch out, been swimming, and done some baking together. All things we both love to do.
But there’s a distance between us now. It seems there is less personal sharing and certainly less physical contact. I’m trying to accept that and find other creative ways to be close. I’m also trying to remember that this same thing happened as my husband and I raised our daughter, but that seems so long ago!
