Pradeep V Kamat
If children are gift of God, then grandchildren are delightful bonus in today’s uncertain life!
Thus when I managed successfully the tough long race to be a grandfather my joy knew no bounds. When I first heard the news I was speechless, proud with ecstatic joy to be grandfather. When I first held my grandson in my arms I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude, pride and emotions.
The tiny little bundle of life with curious gaze and gentle coos captivated me and transported me back to the time when my two little sons were exactly in the same boat 30 - 35 years ago.
Grandfather! I hadn’t dreamt in the wildest of my imagination considering the fragility, unpredictability and uncertainties of life. Yet reaching this milestone of having three generations in a family tree was a proud moment, thrilling and exciting.
Title of grandfather is not just another chapter but a whole new book filled with stories yet untold, laughter not yet shared, the intricacies of life….It is a challenge to step into a new role without any instruction manual!
What makes this transition unique is that it is not burdened with the same pressures of parenthood. As a parent, life was stressful. I was always worried about whether I was making the right decision for a child (be it at school or college level)? Will my child grow up to be a good person…and so on.
But as a grandfather I can now bask in the joy of the baby's presence without fretting over every detail. Now the cycle is coming full circle. With his arrival, now I can enjoy with him laughter, love jokes, share simple pleasures of life and fun parts without primary responsibility.
I can now appreciate the divine creation. So abandoning my precious time of clinic hours, I am compelled to be with him. His innocent laughs and cries pure, and magical, make me forget my so called precious hours!
Having said that, pregnancy was a journey not without intricacies. Here I could give only moral support as a grandfather at each and every tum. Each trimester came with its unique set of challenges. Be it nausea, vomiting, fear of threatened abortion in first; gestational hypertension, diabetes in second and again fear of preterm labour in third trimester.
But the expectant mother (daughter in law) took great care and took all challenges in stride.
With lots of tribulations and simultaneous trepidations among all family members there came a point where a smooth passage gave to FTND, (full term normal delivery)! It was nothing less than a divine blessing.
Scientists say ‘bonding with bump’ can help a baby learn. This means talking to the baby in the third trimester thereby laying foundations for social and emotional development as well as language skills and memory.
Taking the cue, I have already started interacting with our new-born. Saying nursery rhymes, telling stories, songs and sound (simple humming), playful activities etc. After all, he also has to be a grandfather one day!
Be that as it may, grandfather (grandparents rather) means: embracing life’s next chapter. It is an opportunity to leave behind the legacy of love, laughter, wisdom….and of course the memories of time spent together. They will linger behind long after we are gone!