My mother keeps this toy at her home in case a great-grandchild stops by for a visit. She used to have a stack of Dr. Seuss books but they have been given away to her grand-children. Last week my daughter travelled to visit her grandma and brought Baby “A” along. Mom was happy to have a visitor and eager to help her figure out this toy and talk about shapes.
After my dad passed away in November we tried to get mom interested in puzzles and word games. Each attempt could distract her from the TV briefly but she really has very little interest in games and puzzles anymore. That day was different. My daughter saw a calm and patient and attentive side of her grandma that left an impression on her.
When mom was much younger, and we were all in school, she would volunteer once a week at the local baby clinic. Her responsibility was to weigh the babies, to help the new mothers learn how to care for their babies and she loved to carry them while providing the mothers with a few minutes break from the cries and screams. Mom had a gift for calming the babies and was able to keep most babies from crying. This gift was natural and very evident with Baby A’s reaction.
I want to keep this photo forever. This is how I want to remember my mom. I want to remember how she could relate so well to babies and young children.
Reflections 