Some grandparents return to child-raising

When anyone tells me they have an empty nest, I tell them, “Enjoy it while you can.”

After my husband retired from 28 years in Uncle Sam’s Navy, and our three children had flown the coop, I decided to go back to college and graduate this time.

I had begun two night classes when we received the call no parent wants to hear.

Our son-in-law wasn’t sure he wanted to be married or be a father to his 2-year-old and 2-week-old sons, Cory and Brandon. Our daughter had joined the regiment of the “reluctantly divorced – the unknown soldiers of the culture war.”

I knew I was in for a big change in my life when we headed home after rescuing our devastated daughter and two precious grandsons.

My husband, Ray, deftly maneuvered his four-wheel-drive Ford pickup while pulling the U-Haul trailer. Cory thought he was on a fun adventure in the car seat. Brandon snuggled confidently as he nursed his weeping mother.

There wasn’t room for me, so I straddled the pots and pans and potty chair in the back of the pickup. I’m just glad we had a topper.

When we arrived back in Spokane a week later, an Air Force pilot had bought our house and needed to occupy it within 30 days. I panicked at the thought of moving and cleaning and buying a new home, caring for three new family members and continuing two night college classes.

“No problem – we can do it!” pronounced my husband as he left for the Apple Cup with his buddies.

It was a guy thing. His life had not completely reversed as mine had.

We became punchy trying to find the right home in a hurry.

Ray knew he’d found it when the seller had served in the Navy and favored the 49ers football team. It was a sign!

We then asked our older grandson which house he liked of all the ones we’d seen. Cory said, “I liked the one with the suns on the ceiling.”

When the living room lights were turned on, the reflections made a sun pattern with rays. It was the same house Ray liked. We bought it!

The second winter in our home with the suns on the ceiling, we decorated for Christmas on Thanksgiving afternoon. We were looking at a little brown ceramic statue called “The Flight into Egypt.” It was Mary and baby Jesus on a donkey being led by Joseph.

We asked Brandon, “Who is this baby?”

“Brandon.”

“Who is this lady?”

“Mommy.”

“Who is this man leading the donkey?”

“Grandpa.”

Out of the mouth of babes.

Ray remained at sea most of the time when our boys were young. He made up for it with his two grandsons. They lived with us for nine years.

Raising grandchildren is not for the faint of heart.

Committed grandfathers and fathers are so important in the lives of children. May their tribe increase.