Mom, “Do you think you and Dad can be here by March 16th, that way we’ll have a chance to get things ready for the baby coming and you guys can get settled in. We’re really worried that you won’t be able to be at the hospital when he’s born. We’re still waiting to hear,” said my daughter. We made it to Chicago the Monday before our grandson was due to arrive on Thursday, plenty of time to help with our two year old grandson, and do our best to prepare him for his little brother’s arrival.  By Wednesday, my husband and I knew that we wouldn’t be able to be with Abby for the birth, the hospital was on  lock down, father’s only. We understood. So we stayed with our grandson at the house, and waited on Thursday for word that our second grandson and his mama were both doing well. We were ecstatic and thrilled that all was well.

We spent the next couple of weeks helping Mama, Daddy, and baby, but mostly entertaining the two year old. We played endless  games of Hide and Seek, rolled toy trucks and trains across the floor, took long walks  to the overpass to view real semi-trucks, garbage trucks and the Chicago subway trains. We raised our arms, giving them the toot signal, hoping they’d  blow their horns, which they happily obliged. There were times when it was difficult. Like the times when you couldn’t explain to a two-year old that we can’t go to the zoo to see the giraffes, or why his playmates at daycare have been replaced, for the time being by Grandma Coco and Pop Pop.

When we weren’t on two-year old duty, we were cradling this newborn baby, born into the world of COVID-19 that he is totally oblivious of. Is there any better feeling on the entire planet than holding a sleeping baby in your arms. Nope, nothing like it. It is the balm that heals anxiety and fuels hope for a better tomorrow. This child born in the midst of this crises, was and still is, quarantined in love. I will hold on to the precious time that my husband and I were able to spend with our daughter,  son-in-law, and our beautiful boys. We will get through this. Stay safe everyone!

 

COCO