Monday, October 07, 2024

Grandmothers

 I’ve been thinking about my grandmother role.


Lux meeting me at the airport.
Photo by Isaac


Now the girls are teenagers, it’s changed. They no longer come downstairs to my bedroom first thing in the morning for chat and cuddles and screen games. They need every bit of sleep they can get. 

Also, they are out all day from 8 till 4 at school, and there are activities after school such as karate and seeing friends. I don’t spend nearly as much time with them as I did when they were little. I’d play with them and read to them such a lot ten years ago. Now I’m more like much-loved background scenery.

I said this to Dave in an email and he said “Being comforting background scenery is a role in itself.” And he reminded me of what Philip Larkin said of Monica Jones:


This is what I’ve been thinking, and then yesterday after a lovely trip into the mountains with Isaac and the girls…




Paddling in Boulder Creek
Photo by Isaac


Cece and I spent the whole afternoon doing art work together side by side. It was so companionable, and so lovely, and I reconsidered the background scenery angle.



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