Where has the time gone?

It seems that marking the passage of time when you are a parent or a grandparent is measured against the lives of the children in our lives. For example, my husband and I moved into our previous home when our oldest granddaughers – who are twins – were two years old. That is 12 years ago! When you mark time like that it can be difficult to realise that these people who are so important in your life are as old as they are. I can’t believe that those tiny babies are now beautiful young women aged 14.

The twins have a sister who turns 10 on the 22nd of this month. Her birth was two weeks prior to my mother passing away. It’s also hard to believe that it is that long since we lost her. My youngest granddaughter bears my mother’s name as her middle name, so we always have a reminder of mum in her. It seems incredible that she is now reaching double figures and is starting to mature and head towards her teenage years. That will soon come round!

I was talking to some workmates the other day and said, ‘I remember when the three girls would come to stay with us and I would bath the three of them in the big bath in our ensuite. They would be horrified if I saw them naked these days!’ How soon these moments in time seem to pass.

My three grandsons are growing up too, with the oldest just turning six recently. We are looking at him flying unaccompanied – but looked after by cabin crew of course – to see us in Christchurch from his home in Wellington. Hard to believe he is old enough, but it will be good to give him the opportunity of one-on-one with us and spending time with his cousins. He has two younger brothers and they too seem to be growing so fast it’s hard to keep up.

As life goes zipping by, it reminds me of the fact that this year it will be 3 years since I was diagnosed. Three years too since my oldest passed away suddenly. His passing and then two months later being diagnosed with Parkinson’s will always be linked with each other as a difficult time in my life.

It also reminds me, that there is not a moment, or a day to waste in life. That none of us know what life will have in store for us and the challenges we will face. All that we can do is do our best to make the most of the life that we have. Spending time with those we love and creating memories. This weekend we have had our girls stay with us for three nights and we have baked and cooked and shopped and gone to a Matariki – Māori New Year – celebration together. Two of the girls and I have had a spa together each night and have sat in the warmth of the spa pool talking about all manner of things. It has been so nice to connect with them all over chats in the spa, baking in the kitchen and in a community celebration.

I hope that we are banking memories for each other that will remain special and precious for us all. I said to the twins that I know that one day they will want to spend time with their friends rather than stay with us, their grandparents.

Their reply? ‘We’ll always want to stay with you Nanna!’

Oh, my heart…