Emma and Robin left Albany today on the noon train for New York City. By this evening, Emma, Robin and me all had fevers, some of the wonder of being around babies. We did, however, all have a wonderful and meaningful weekend together.
Emma was, as I expected exhausted, and by Sunday, so were the rest of us. Maria and I snatched Robin early each morning and gave Emma as much of a rest as was possible – about three hours. My diaper-changing, formula preparation, and cajoling all came back and Robin and I spent much of the weekend smiling and making faces at one another.
I think our bond deepened.
She has certainly brought Emma closer to me.
On the way back to the train, Emma encouraged me to embrace my role as a grandfather, and to accept the idea that I would be important to Robin. I agreed to do that. It is not clear to me how all of this will work out, but I tend to overthink things rather than accept them.
It will be what it wants to be. I told Emma I imagined I was preparing myself for the disappointment of not being present for the vast majority of Robin’s life. My experience with family has been difficult.
I also see what wonderful parents Emma and Jay are, and I have no interest in injecting myself too deeply into that. Robin will be well cared for. There is such a thing as being too cautious, and I do understand that, so I will just go along with the flow.
What Robin and I – and Emma – have together now is quite lovely, I have been working on it, and if that grows and deepens, all the better. I believe in acceptance and practice acceptance in almost all of my life, I want to apply it here as well.
Robin and I did a lot of laughing together, and by today, we were both quite comfortable with teacher. A good result for any weekend. I don’t expect to see Robin again for several months, unless I take that train myself down to New York City for a day. When I see her again, she will be walking and starting to talk.
She is a lot of fun right now, easy-going with a lot of mischief in her eyes. She knows how to laugh and how to dance. Maria and she also bonded quickly, and danced together through the weekend. Maria is a natural.
Having Robin and Emma here deepened the pleasure of hosting the RISSE refugee soccer team. That was a groundbreaking experience for me, and I will remain committed to supporting these very worthy young people.
I was sad to see her go, but also thoroughly exhausted. I forgot just how hard it was to raise a baby and spend days with her.
And also working to show that the vast majority of refugees and immigrants are no threat or danger to us, but a part of our very national DNA.