What I Love
Posted: Saturday, October 08, 2011
by Hannah Quinn
Too-Write! Professional Services
What do I love about...? Ah, this is a loaded question. Let's start with Searchwarp since it is the actual writing assignment. I love that it is an open forum which encourages a multitude of opinions, views and ideas. When I first joined, many of the articles made me think it had a pro-religious agenda but by continuing to read, I soon realised the length and breadth of diversity welcomed. More than once I've run 'foul' of others' views but that's fine. As long as people are neither crude nor deliberately inflammatory, I'm happy to keep debating a subject. I like variety of opinion and enjoy discovering what other people think and why they think it. I got a surprise to log in today and find the name had been changed!
I can use the internet to contact friends and even find new ones. I can learn many things, get quick maps and directions, find places to visit and things to do, book tickets and holidays, buy my groceries when I'm sick, talk to my grandchildren and share photos with family and friends. I can follow many groups of interest such as politics, social issues, environmental issues and so many more. I can be an activist even when I have to work. I can write articles, comments, responses and share them. I can sign petitions and I can share things I know with others who might be interested. I can run my business, a blog or a forum.
I love many things such as my two dogs and one cat, my garden, my car, books, music, good wine, fine food, and meals out with friends, but most of all, I love my little family: my two sons and my daughter, their partners and my grandsons, all four of the little scamps - the oldest is four, there is a two year old, one about to turn two and a baby who is seven months. There is something very special about having grandchildren. When you have your own children, you are both surprised and not surprised by how much you love them. Right alongside that love is pride, delight, fun, sharing, teaching but so is exhaustion, responsibility, a steep learning curve, juggling finances, energy, relationships and work. The years pass so quickly that before you know it, your children have left and their is an emptiness inside you.
Then, voila, your children are giving you grandchildren. You know you are going to love them, but you don't realise the depth or power of that love until you are smack in the middle of it. Suddenly, you are enjoying these special little people in a way you never had time nor energy for with your own. I must add here that I did enjoy my three children, they gave my life a richness of purpose I never thought possible - as every parent knows.
With grandchildren, though, you really do get all the fun without the responsibility - well, no onerous responsibility anyway. After all, you spend time with them, play with them, kiss them goodbye and then get on with living your own life. Something you could only dream about once.
And the really wonderful reward you reap is the love your grandchildren give you back. You don't have to do anything more than be part of their lives and that makes you special in their eyes and hearts.
One of the most precious sounds I've ever heard in my life is 'Nanna, Nanna'.
What's not to love about that?
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Hannah, I look forward to hearing "Nanna" should I be graced with inhabiting this world long enough. I enjoyed your read.Suzi, Thank you for taking the time to comment. Being called 'Nanna' is definitely one of the most wonderful things to look forward to. I know you will adore it when the time comes as I'm sure it will.
I am completely with you on this article. The pot pourri of life's wonders as far as I am concerned. I have 6 grandkids, and I never expected the level of joy. Missed you.Thanks, Christofer for both the comment and the sentiment. I don't think we can really explain the intensity of joy and love we feel for our grandchildren. My friends feel the same way. Perhaps they bring a purpose of life and renewed energy and value to our own lives which we no longer get from our independent and capable adult children, yet it is a different love altogether than what we have for our children. I think that is what has surprised me more than anything.
Amen to Nanna and all the wonderful Grand Folks out there. They are God's gifts. Lovely article.Thank you for commenting. I feel as though I'm the one who should say thank you just for being a Nanna. :)
Good one, thanksThank you, Jack.
"Then, voila, your children are giving you grandchildren." Hannah, you make it sound like there's nothing to fear! Thanks for encouraging me about lies in our future!! Really enjoyed your wryte! ~mogama~Mogama, It does seem like 'voila' and I have grandchildren. They bring such a joy and new life for old bones. When your turn comes, you'll go 'Ah, that's what she meant.' :)
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