My Grandson, My Treasure

By CINDY MARKLEY
As with most six year olds, Noah is a ball of energy with a smile as bright as the sun. However, what makes him even more amazing to me is that his mother, my daughter, died this year and with the exception of a few blue days here and there, he has stayed stronger than many adults faced with this kind of loss.
I’m sure being raised by a grandmother is not always cool. I have rules about the type of video games he plays and he has a strict bedtime. He is sometimes shocked that bath time comes every night. He wrestles with us, plays at the park, and is the best snuggle-bug in quiet times. He loves his teacher and has good friends at school. We are so proud that he is learning to read. He is happy and well adjusted, all things considered.
Our family has been feeling a sense of dread with the approaching holidays. Our main goal is to keep things as normal as possible for Noah. That is a challenge in itself because my daughter was the peaceful, humorous glue that bound us tightly together as a family.
I recently asked Noah if he needed help writing his letter to Santa. He asked, “Can Santa bring Mommy back?” With tears in my eyes I tried to explain to him that his mother watches over him, but can’t be here with us in her earthly form anymore.
Noah hung his head and his usual sunny smile faded for a moment. Then he looked at me and said in a very calm, matter of fact way, “Then I don’t need anything.
You can give some of my toys to the kids who lost theirs in the hurricane.” Then off he ran to wrestle with his stuffed Batman and play games with Aunt Becca.
In this time of holiday hustle and bustle with sounds of credit cards being swiped and cash register drawers opening and closing, maybe we lose sight of what is really important. Please hug the ones you love because we are not guaranteed they will be here tomorrow.
Please remember that the first Christmas was about the gift of love and life. And if you find time, think of children like Noah, who have lost someone so precious to them but still greet each day with a smile and manage to think of the needs of others.
Markley writes from Wildwood