I received the most wonderful gift from a dear college friend, Sue, the other day. It's a silver frame with a picture of Matthew, Juliet and me, and a poem by Jacqueline Shaheen. The poem is titled "Between Mother and Son", and it brought tears to my eyes when I first read it, and in fact every time I've read it. Here it is:
My heart is younger, higher
Than any time since I held
Your beginning life against it.
The mirror does not lie.
I am as my mother was,
As I, of course, would never be.
On this day of days, time is gracious.
It has, I think, a special fondness
For first-time grandmothers.
And so leaves one thing unchanged...
I love your daughter as I loved
The son cradled in my arms,
That long ago yesterday,
When I was you and you were she.
I couldn't have said it better myself. Holding Juliet takes me back to the days of Matt's infancy, but without all the fear and uncertainty of being a new parent. Holding her is pure joy, fascination and love. Being a grandmother is the best job I ever had.
My mother gave me this poem when my daughter was born, a scrap of paper cut from a magazine. I have that paper stuck somewhere, and come across it every now and then when cleaning out a box or cabinet. Every time I read it, it makes me cry. After my grandson was born, it held special meaning for me. Today, my grandson started 3rd grade, my granddaughter started Pre-K, and I thought of it again. Not knowing where I stuck that piece of paper, I turned to the internet, and found this site. Thank you for having this poem when I needed it.
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