It happened today for the first time! When my son and his lovely wife had their first child, my wife and I were elated. Less than a month later, my son, a Gonzaga grad, called and invited me to go with them to the NCAA final 4 in Phoenix Arizona. Of course, I thought he was inviting me to the game along with his in-laws. Unforeseen circumstances left my son, his wife, my new granddaughter and I heading to Phoenix. I was lucky enough to be the first one they trusted me to watch her. Okay, I did have a lot of help from cousin Jose’s wife Ozzy who had small kids. I watched the game at their house. After a few months of maternity leave, my wife and I babysat on Mondays and Fridays. This was great because we could watch the baby and have them over for dinner 2 nights a week. I am grateful for having so much time with her. Never having
a chance to meet my grandparents, I was the youngest of 4 and my mother was 41 at my birth, I never really thought of grandparents as part of a family. Many many days have passed since Natalia said “Dada” and this morning it happened! After spending the night, my wife brought her out of the bedroom and she said it, clear as day, “GRANPA“. I’m grateful to my son and daughter in law for giving me and my wife the time we cherish spending time with her. As I shared my story in this short time of less than a day, I heard soo many stories of families who don’t have the same opportunity and closeness. Find a way to make amends and give our children the much-needed love they deserve. There are so many stories in the news of bad parenting. This is a story of great parents and grateful grandparents on both sides. We are blessed.