~~Grandmother's Creed

As I hold you in my arms
for the first time,
I look down at your innocent face
and tell you,
"I am your Nanny"
and I tell you what good friends
we'll become.

I promise you
that my heart will always be a safe haven
where my love for you
will know no obstacles.
My home
will always be your home.

YOU ARE MY SECOND CHANCE
sweet innocent babe.
My second chance to take the time to bake cookies,
and watch the sparkling anticipation
in a child's eyes.

My second chance to sit and rock
a baby to sleep,
experiencing the wonder of
a the tiny heart beating next to mine
as you rest upon my chest.

My second chance to experience
the wonder of a child discovering
they can walk
and blow dandelions into the sky.

A second chance to view the world
through the innocence of a child's heart.

AND THIS TIME...
there will be no rushing to keep schedules
and clean the house.

You have the advantage of my years
and having gained the wisdom of knowing
what's really important in life.

You have the advantage
that I know my place in the world
and that a few cobwebs
don't really matter.

As the poem goes,
you have the advantage that
I now know that babies don't keep.

I promise to be a child with you
when you need me to be
and a source of strength
when that's what you need from me.

I promise that you will probably hear
more YES' from me
and fewer No's,
but I will always honor and respect
the place of your Mother and Father,
into who's care, God has placed you.

I will never try to outshine them
or diminish their role in your life.
For as much as I Love You..
they Love You even more.

We'll grow old together...
I'll just get there a little sooner.
And someday, when I'm gone
you'll look back
upon all the times we shared
and you'll smile.

The word "Grandmother"...
Will always hold
a special place in your heart
just as YOU
have always held one in mine

~~Cathy