Great, family times

Today I put a one year old baby in front of her great-grandmother. This, I discovered, is a wonderful thing to do.


The baby took a collection of rambling steps along the path, her great-grandmother said she was ‘very adventurous.’
The baby smeared a quarter of a packet of blueberries in and around her mouth, her great-grandmother said ‘it’s wonderful she chose the fruit instead of the cake.’
The baby pointed to a green tree in front of a blue sky and made a babbling sound that was not any word I recognised, her great-grandmother said she was ‘very clever.’


While swaying forward and back on a park swing the baby stared continuously at her great-grandmother. ‘Look at her’ she said, ‘she can’t stop looking at me. I think it is because she can feel the love I have for her.’


On the walk back the baby tripped and fell onto her hand and knees. She then climbed up and continued on, her great-grandmother said she was ‘very brave.’


My baby will not be looked at with such complete adoration by other people, today in the eyes of her mother’s, mother’s, mother she was singularly perfect. A magical creation that brought unending joy flowing across the generations.


Today I took a one year old away from her great-grandmother. I’ll strive to bring her back.