A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance

Monday, August 11, 2008

Circle of Life

Any time I hear the song "Circle of Life" I cry. I think the older you get the more aware you truly become of that circle. Having my kids was the single most important thing that has ever happened. If someone asked me to define myself in a limited number of words, the first thing that always pops out is that I'm the mother of twins. I tell anyone who will listen, and even those who would rather not hear about it. Being a mom trumps everything else in my life. So when they hold that baby lion up and sing, I blubber. Every time.


I'm a mom, and now a grandmother. And I've lost my parents. The Circle. It's sometimes happy, sometimes sad, always a thing of awe. This past year Ed and I lost three people - his mom and dad, and my dad. And the circle goes on.

My son will soon be a father! He and his wife are expecting their first child mid-January - and it's a boy. I've so thoroughtly enjoyed watching my daughter be a mother and now I can watch my son be a father. Seems like only yesterday he was just a baby himself. Now he's the one to be changing the diapers, reading bedtime stories, and getting up in the middle of the night for a bunch of different reasons. Here's my sweet boy at the age of 2.

And, my brother, Tony, and his wife, Nicki, are expecting their fourth child! Also in mid-January and also a boy. Since Tony is 18 years younger than I am, his children have always felt more like grandkids to me and it's so cool that another one is on the way. This is my brother at the age of 5 at my first wedding.
And here are the two dads-to-be at Easter this year.


Now we're waiting for Ed's daughter to get pregnant with her first and we will have replaced the three family members we lost. The circle of life.

Oh, I also blubber when I hear Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof but that's another story.

11 comments:

Chatterness said...

My dad has always told me that he hopes he is still alive when I become a grandparent. He claims thate is no greater joy!! I thought I was the only one to cry when they lift the baby in Lion King!

Anonymous said...

I am so with you on this one. Also had to mention that both of your new dads-to-be are so handsome! You are a lucky lady. They always say when someone dies, there will be a new birth. That is truly the circle of life. Congrats to you! ;)

Desert Diva said...

What a great family you have in your "circle of life!"

Patty said...

Your son as a toddler looks so much like my son at that age they could be twins. Wow. I had to look at it twice. He has that exact same outfit and he had blonde hair. only his was very curly as a kid.

As for the circle, it makes me sad too when I think of the changes life offers. I smile at them, but it is always bitter sweet. The old ones die and the new come to take there place..aww the circle never breaks...
Enjoy the moment..

All You Need Is said...

I am at this point in my life, where I am not sure I want to have children. My parents have four grandsons and I know their greatest hope is for a granddaughter. I think they secretly wish I would give them another grandbaby...sigh. Now you have me thinking Sandi :0)

MYM said...

Oh yes, certain songs can trigger those kinds of feelings in me as well.

The photos are wonderful :)

Daisy said...

What a great blog!! I am going to share with my self-proclaimed techno-tard mother. Thanks for visiting my blog, Sandi! I know I will be back!

Anonymous said...

My parents have such joy when they are with my daughters, it shows that shows that love is infinite, we have enough for our whole circle and beyond.

A New Yorker said...

Congrats and make sure they hire Doulas to help them with their births. Those damn doctors LOVE to muck it up nowadays. It's not even close to what it was for my mom anymore. So sad.

Nikki said...

Congrats! woohoo!...I love the circle of life song too. I agree that your kids are your greatest accomplishment and now you get to have all the fun and send the grands on their way...:)N

Unknown said...

The circle of life is both beautiful and sad at the same time. But I guess that's life. ;)

Congrats to the daddies to be!