When Life Comes Full Circle

As a mother of a grown daughter, I’ve had several of those “my life just came full circle” moments. Like when My Baby graduated from high school. That’s a proud day for any parent, watching your child cross that stage and receive a diploma. It marks a new chapter in your child’s life when they are right on the verge of becoming an adult. The day we drove her to college and carried all of her stuff up to her dorm room is still so vivid. I remember my Mom and Dad doing the same for me. Walking away from the dorm and leaving her behind was tough. I wonder if Mom cried all the way home and drank margaritas when she got back to the house? I wonder if Dad offered to pull over on the side of the freeway so she could collect herself. Oh, wait…who am I kidding?! I was one of five daughters. My mom may have had a margarita, but I’ll bet she was celebrating, not depressed! My Baby is an only child. The empty nest syndrome hit me hard.
I remember the day our baby got married. That was a glorious day. It was June, the people we love were there, and everything went off without a hitch. So many things could have gone wrong but didn’t. It was a wonderful day filled with love and laughter. Our baby was a beautiful bride, and we were thrilled to welcome Bama Boy to the family. Was it really 28 years ago that The Complete Package and I got hitched? I still remember peeking down the aisle to make sure he was standing at the altar and picking rice out of my mouth (we still threw it back then) and driving away with cans tied to the back of our car. It doesn’t feel like 28 years have passed.
Now it’s babies that bring us full circle again. Watching my child give birth to her own babies brings back all of those memories of diapers, formula, sleepless nights, the smell of baby lotion and sweet baby kisses. It takes me back to that first day of school, baking cookies together, playing at the park, and dressing up like a little devil or a dinosaur or a spider for Halloween. She’s all grown up now, and she’s a wonderful mother to two sweet, funny kids. Together, she and Bama Boy have built their own family, and it’s our time to be grandparents. Now I know the sadness my parents felt when we didn’t come to visit as often as we could have. And I know the joy my parents felt when they watched the grandkids do something for the first time. And I feel that powerful love a grandparent feels for the babies of their babies. The Complete Package bought me a framed needlepoint that says it all – When A Baby is Born, So is a Grandmother. It’s true. Watching your children with their own children makes you feel complete. It reminds you of the sacrifices your parents made for you, and you in turn made for your own child. It makes you feel like your life has come full circle.