Someone asked me, "What do you look forward to every week?" Over the last 12 months, this changed drastically.
In the summer of 2019, I would look forward to returning home in the afterglow of a successful training week. As a single owner of a Learning and Development consulting business, I was paid when I got physically in front of my client to facilitate learning. My clients are all over the U.S. I love what I do and who I partner with. It gives me a tremendous feeling of joy. Stepping off the airport shuttle to see my wife and dog waiting to take me home was another bonus. That was a feeling of comfort.
In the fall of 2019, when business slowed down, we were visiting Rocky Mountain National park each week. It gave us a break from the heat with the cool fresh air, hikes in the mountains for exercise, and a good chance to see wildlife. This was one of the main reasons we moved to Colorado.
Early in 2020, during COVID- 19, we were looking forward to making it through the day, week, a month? I looked forward to my weekly Skype calls with my elderly parents. To hear and see them, helped assure me that they were well.
Then in the Spring of 2020, we had "Fridays with Luka!" I was told many times by my friends, that being a grandparent was the coolest job ever! The birth of a child is miraculous, and when it is your child, (or your child's child), there is even more meaning attached to that event.
Luka Rein was born on January 16, 2020, just about 4 weeks earlier than projected. The hospital specialized in preemies and his parents were committed to coming home from the hospital all together. We were there right away and excitement for a new generation and his parents welled up in me like a pot of rice about to go over on the stove. Holding him in the NICU with tubes coming out was difficult, but we kept a positive attitude and gave him healing energy. Thankfully he was only there for four days. Months later, when both of Luka's parents needed to go back to work, we were able to cover Friday's for them. Those Fridays gave us a new purpose and something positive to look forward to again. We have been fortunate to spend many of those special days with Luka and he does have us wrapped around his fingers.
The ideal part of the grandparenting relationship is that you get to fully enjoy the cuddles, smiles, and giggles, without the sleepless nights. The benefits are watching them grow, laugh, and learn along with breaks to catch your breath.
I remember back in the 1960's I was returning with my parents and siblings from visiting my mother's family in Minnesota. My mother turned to us and said, "I can't wait for you to have children so I can spoil them like your grandmother spoils you." She did just that, and the cycle continues with Luka.
For the future, I am looking forward to mixing some of the 2019 activities with being a grandparent, creating a balance. I would love to do that without COVID- 19, but that seems to be here for a while at least.
What do you look forward to every week?
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