Oh, please! It’s not what you think.
As the regular readers know, I have two sons — actually stepsons, but we gave up stepping on one another years ago. So, today they are just my two sons. And, so no one thinks I am being “assumptive” my wife-in-law is and always has been very gracious in sharing her offspring.
I guess I cannot go farther without commenting on my wife-in-law — again. She is one of the most wonderful ladies in the world. I consider her a friend and occasionally, a confidant. Luckily enough, she is a very intelligent woman as well. When I entered the picture years ago, she and my husband had been divorced several years. I am certain that the two boys would have preferred my staying out of the picture. The reality is that few children, especially when they are younger, want to see their mom or dad marry someone who is not their mother or father. Get it?
Well, I would be lying to say that there were not a few difficult days, with the older son in particular. But, my wife-in-law stood my me — and my husband. Of course, she has done a marvelous job bringing up the boys… the men. Anyway, it just made more sense to me and to my wife-in-law to be friends than to allow the kids to make us enemies — and they tried for about a week. Now, I can honestly say that my wife-in-law is a friend. And, I am grateful for that relationship.
But, today I am a thankful that my younger son has made me a grandmother-of-sorts for the second time. My husband and I are the real grandparents of one little girl who is about 6 months old now — product of older son and his wife. We are most grateful for the little one. She is beautiful. But, the younger son has a new baby, too —- Just not a human one.
Puppy 2
I would love to introduce the readers to this new pup more formally, but so far he is known as “Number 2.” You see, there is another pup at my younger son’s house. Her name is Beatrice. I don’t have a picture of her yet.
Anyway, “Number 2″ is going to be a big boy when he’s all grown up. Check out those feet! And, no he was not posing for the picture! He was peeing. He is only 11 weeks old, weighs 28 pounds, and I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go — even if you are a Great Dane.
A visit by “Number 2″ was somewhat unexpected. My son had driven to Texas to pick up the new adoptee and decided to swing by our house on the way home with the new baby. The proud papa wanted to show off his new baby. I can’t say that I blame him. “Number 2″ is a jewel of a pup.
As excited as we are about the new pup, I guess my husband and I were more grateful that our son decided to drive about an hour out of the way home to visit. You know, it is something small that makes parents feel involved and loved. We certainly did not expect the visit. Yesterday when he rang us up from Texas we were not sure he would stop by on the way back home. He had to go into the lab this evening when he got home to check on something he is doing at the hospital. And, tomorrow he will be back at work, on call and making rounds.
But, he took the time to share a moment with his parents. He could have just as easily said that he needed to get back to the hospital and didn’t have time. We would have understood. But, this young man never forgets his parents — never! He calls each week, sometimes when he is on the way to the hospital, sometimes while working in the lab, sometimes on his way home. Sometimes the calls are brief. But, he calls.
Anyway, Beatrice is a boxer, nine weeks old. My daughter-in-law picked her. My son had been wanting a Great Dane since he started medical school. Somehow there was never enough time or enough room for a pet. But, now that he is married and a new homeowner, he and his wife of one year have decided to start a family — not exactly what we expected. But, there is time for children — real ones — later. Both of the kids are working on Ph.D.’s and the son is double-timing by doing a residency at the same time. Pets are enough for now.
“Number 2″ does not have an official name for now. He has to meet his new sister (Beatrice) and his new mom before a name is determined. Quite honestly, we don’t care what he is called — although I suggested Hamlet and Plutonius since he is a Dane. For today we are thankful to have a new family member and more thankful that our son shared the experience with us.
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