Sunday, December 11, 2016

“Play is the highest form of research.”

~ Albert Einstein

We watch movies when she is here–pretty much the only time we do. Last night it was Parent Trap. The best one so far this week. Truth be told, I missed snippets of it as I struggled to stay awake.

“Grandma, wake up!” She made sure I did t miss too much.

We colour together before bed trying to guess the names of the crayons we choose. Nearly impossible for me. The names have changed since I was a child.

She has a vivid imagination and chats with her dolls and friends only she can see but who are part of our time together as surely as if they were flesh and bone.

She organizes dance classes, we practice a play (ad-libbing the lines this year), we play board games and endless rounds of hide-and-seek.

I think about how it must be for my daughter with this daughter of her own who is so bright and strong. With no siblings at home to join in her games it becomes mama’s role (this week, Grandma’s) to enter her world and join in her games. All this while playing the role of “single parent” which is, at the same time, a joyous gift and a heavy responsibility.

Now, in the dark of the morning, I snatch a few moments for myself while she still sleeps. I feel the passing of time. I wait in anticipation for her to wake and for another day of adventure to begin. I try to ignore the fact that there are fewer days ahead than there are behind in this visit.

One of the gifts she brings with her when she comes is the ability to be in the moment and squeeze as much out of every single day as she can. It is something I am learning from her.