As I come up on one year without you, I find that I sometimes have to remind myself that you’re really not here.
When you got sick, it seemed like something that would be easily beat. We would have a few months of you not being well enough to watch my son on your usual Fridays, and then all would be back to normal. You would go back to being an over the top grandmother to my son and future daughter and I would go back to complaining about it.
What I didn’t know, is that I would realize too late that you were the perfect mother in law and nonna to my babies. And I didn’t realize just how many things I would miss about you.
I miss your unsolicited advice.
I miss the way you always told my husband he was perfect.
I miss the way you overfed my son.
I miss the hugs that seemed to go on forever.
I miss the way you never said anything bad about anyone.
I even miss complaining about you…
I would give anything to complain about your lipstick marks on my baby girl. Or freak out that you gave her too many bottles while I was at work. I wish I could have a conversation with my husband about how he needs to tell you to stop rocking the baby to sleep.I wish I could roll my eyes just one more time as you tell me how you raised babies in your day. And I wish more than anything else that I could just say, thank you.
Thank you for all your advice. I should have written it all down.
Thank you for making your son (my husband) kind and sweet and confident. Because of you, he will always tell his children they are perfect and loved.
Thank you for always taking care of my son. I know now that making sure he was well fed was your way of showing love. (You would be so happy to know that your granddaughter is a wonderful eater)
Thank you for those long hugs. If I concentrate, I can still feel your embrace.
Thank you for showing me to see the good in everyone. Even when you have to look really hard.
Thank you for kissing your grandson. I will always imagine you doing the same to your granddaughter.
Thank you for holding my baby boy when he was crying and needed comfort. I think of that when my baby girl just needs a little extra cuddle time.
And thank you for letting me complain, and still loving me.
I love you and I miss you.

