My husband and I made the trek across the state this weekend to visit my family in the suburbs of Detroit.
And, despite the relaxed pace of the four days we spent there, we were bustling with activity — and I don’t mean just mashing the potatoes.
There was the visit to my grandmother’s place to show the baby off to her friends at the assisted-living center. There was the visit with my aunt’s best friends, who only get to see the baby every six months or so. And then there was the effort to maximize the time with the aunts, uncle and cousins.
I tell ya, for being an only child with six relatives, there are a lot of people to see.
It was during this time that I realized that I have an obligation to these people that I love. I have this 19-pound treasure that toddles all over my living room, but quick snaps on the cellphone or 20-second video clips uploaded to Facebook don’t foster a relationship.
What my loved ones really need is time — time to make an impression with my son, time to learn his expressions and mannerisms and time to make lasting memories.
It is part of my responsibility as his mother to foster these relationships, so he grows up knowing what a wonderful family he has.
I want him to know that Thanksgiving always is at my aunt’s house — and that she always insists that she forgot some part of the meal, even as people praise her for a delicious feast.
I want him to see my grandmother’s look of sheer joy as she relishes the gift of having lived long enough to meet my child and to share in his first milestones.
I want him to feel my other aunt’s kisses on his head and know that the love she shows for him reminds me of when I was a girl and watched her dote on her own young tots.
I want him to remember all the times my young cousin asks about how Baby Ben is doing, and what he’s up to day to day.
I want him to understand the depth of love that constantly emanates from my family, and that he is a big reason why many people on the east side of the state are giving thanks this year.
— Sarah Leach is assistant managing editor at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at (616) 546-4278 or sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com.
And, despite the relaxed pace of the four days we spent there, we were bustling with activity — and I don’t mean just mashing the potatoes.
There was the visit to my grandmother’s place to show the baby off to her friends at the assisted-living center. There was the visit with my aunt’s best friends, who only get to see the baby every six months or so. And then there was the effort to maximize the time with the aunts, uncle and cousins.
I tell ya, for being an only child with six relatives, there are a lot of people to see.
It was during this time that I realized that I have an obligation to these people that I love. I have this 19-pound treasure that toddles all over my living room, but quick snaps on the cellphone or 20-second video clips uploaded to Facebook don’t foster a relationship.
What my loved ones really need is time — time to make an impression with my son, time to learn his expressions and mannerisms and time to make lasting memories.
It is part of my responsibility as his mother to foster these relationships, so he grows up knowing what a wonderful family he has.
I want him to know that Thanksgiving always is at my aunt’s house — and that she always insists that she forgot some part of the meal, even as people praise her for a delicious feast.
I want him to see my grandmother’s look of sheer joy as she relishes the gift of having lived long enough to meet my child and to share in his first milestones.
I want him to feel my other aunt’s kisses on his head and know that the love she shows for him reminds me of when I was a girl and watched her dote on her own young tots.
I want him to remember all the times my young cousin asks about how Baby Ben is doing, and what he’s up to day to day.
I want him to understand the depth of love that constantly emanates from my family, and that he is a big reason why many people on the east side of the state are giving thanks this year.
— Sarah Leach is assistant managing editor at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at (616) 546-4278 or sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com.
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