Oh my gosh is she cute! Little Lilyanna. Born on my Grandpa's birthday, May 9th; and now she has made me a Grandpa! Just one more of the life changes that I have been writing about, and as I've reiterated through this series of articles, they're having more of an impact because they're all coming at the same time!
Aunt Amy holds Lilyanna
This little baby, born to my son and his girlfriend, gave us the normal nine months of preparatory time, but that only functions as a planning tool for the physical needs of a newborn. It is not nearly enough time to make the mental preparations of dealing with a birth to two unwed teenagers. And maybe that's mostly me, but the entire family is making adjustments now, and still trying to get used to the idea. Her family too.
Myself.....well, this is certainly not the way I planned things for the next generation. The conservative dinosaur that I am, wanted things much more conventional. There is a time for children and this one is way too early. But life doesn't always work. Now that she's here, the only concern can be looking forward and hoping that both father and mother can grow quickly and not at the expense of the baby. A strong dose of maturity is needed immediately. Jobs (too early to call them careers) need to be stabilized for both. Housing for mother and baby is handled for now, thanks to the maternal grandparents. But they understandably expect that to be temporary, and I'm thinking only months rather than years.
Lilyanna, at a little over one week old, is still very much a novelty right now. But she'll demand much more, very soon. She'll demand responsibility, maturity, patience and love. Grandparents can help, but these two new parents are going to have to supply the large part of it every single day. From where I sit, both have serious deficits in one of more of those categories. I think that they know it too, and maybe that's a good thing.
For this set of Grandparents, it will be difficult to help. In part one of this series, you read of my job change and the relocation. We'll be 300 miles away from Lilyanna. That certainly doesn't help the whole equation.
I know things will be alright. There are a thousand babies born this day (actually many more than that) for whom life will be a greater challenge. I know that. But it still doesn't prevent one from wanting better for family. Right now, a support system is in place. The most important thing we can do is to begin the careful and loving deconstruction of that system as we help two new parents to stand. I pray that they appreciate the awesome responsibility ahead and love each other through it, because a parent's love and respect for each other is the most important thing they can do for their child.
Here's to Lilyanna! Not just another change, but changing everyday!
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