A few months ago my Grandma (Kaden’s Great Grandma ) was able to make the trip down from Grand Rapids to South Bend to watch Kaden play flag football.
Grandma is in her 90’s so making a two hour trip down and back for the day is no small feat. As she would be happy to tell you she is not as young as she used to be and getting out of the house isn’t what it once was.
Her knees may be shot, her hearing gone, and a multitude of other health issues, but my Grandma still has a very sharp mind.
As she came into our house she started with her usual compliments on how nice the house was, and how she just loved the wooden floors and so on. Only Grandmas can make a modest ranch house seem like a mansion on MTV cribs!
We started off with lunch and then Kaden’s birthday cake, and the praises just kept rolling. “Lunch was delicious, the birthday cake was wonderful.” She also spoke about the ride down and the beautiful color of the leaves and the fall weather. Very positive and very present. Living life in the moment.
On to Kaden’s game, and it just happened to be quite sunny and hot for a fall day. Great Grandma sat on the sidelines and watched Kaden practice for an hour and then play his game for another hour. We did our best to keep her in the shade and hydrated but I am pretty positive it was a bit difficult for her to sit there for that long of time.
Of course you would have never known that she was uncomfortable, she had the time of her life. Great Grandmas don’t care if their grandsons score, or run for a lot of yards, or even catch a ball, that is all icing on the cake. Great Grandmas are just glad that got to see and be their for the moment. That they are watching another generation grow up and flourish.
Great Grandmas also know that they don’t have a lot of time left and to cherish every moment. That day my Grandma taught me what it is like to be present, and to have pure joy in the little things.
Being present is something that I struggle with. As my Grandma was enjoying the game and the fact that Kaden was out there, I was worrying about how much playing time he got and if he was getting the ball enough. Essentially that’s what moms do, we worry, we protect, we want our kids to succeed and make it to the future. Yet sometimes we need to learn from Grandma and Great Grandma and just enjoy the game.
I am so thankful that Great Grandma Chicklon was able to make it to Kaden’s game and I hope that she will continue to make it to many more. I think about that day often and I want my Grandma to know how much she has meant to me and how she has inspired me.
Thank you Grandma for that great fall day, and for all of the support you have given Kaden and I through the years.
by Stacey Atkinson