Precious Moments
Photo Credit: Anna Gutierrez
“I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.” ~ Vincent van Gogh
A few weeks ago I posted a blog about how our quirks often turn out to be our superpowers. I encouraged you, dear reader, to ponder what makes you the one and only you. Last week I wrote personal stories of how burdens and blessings are manifesting in my life. This week’s musings is inspired by the blessing of my grandbabies and how spending time with them has reminded me that one of my superpowers is being able to connect deeply with babies.
Last week Mister and I arrived at our Airbnb in Costa Rica with our daughter, her partner and our granddaughter. It was just the five of us the first few days, and Mister and I were given several opportunities to look after our granddaughter while her parents enjoyed some much-needed couple time. It was the usual drill, having to put on our sleuth hats to discern what each coo, laugh or cry meant, and the corresponding right action.
On one such occasion, it was clear by how our granddaughter rubbed her tiny hands repeatedly at her big blue eyes that she was tired and in need of some sleep. I scooped her into my arms and retreated into the quiet, dark stillness of our bedroom. I rocked her and blocked out the rest of the world, both of us completely present. She stared back at me with an expression like Van Gogh describes—her gaze so deep and infinite and eternal, it pulled my attention to her like two magnets. We stared into one another’s eyes and I sang to her and told her how loved and protected she was, and even as she resisted, her eyelids began to droop, then close completely.
I felt the shift in her breathing and her body relaxed. I swayed my way over to the lounger and laid back against a big pillow while Mister shoved another pillow under my elbow to support me. I didn’t read or scroll on my phone or sleep. I just sat there, gazing at her with awe and wonder. Even when my arm began to go numb from the weight of her head and my neck started to creak, I held on. Her baby energy combined with my love for her fuelled my nurturing abilities, making me incredibly resilient. I was able to withstand far more discomfort than usual.
A few days later, my son, his partner, and my grandson arrived. It was a magical moment for me, when I stood on the front step of Airbnb with Mister and our family gathered altogether, the first time for this unique group of us, ever. When I sat on the loveseat in the back garden the next morning, cocooned in the wild and vibrant jungle-landscape of Costa Rica, one grandchild cradled on each side of me, an infinite and eternal rush of love swept through me with a strength so huge, it felt like my heart was literally exploding like fireworks inside my chest.
The next day I was given the opportunity to look after my grandson while his parents went out on a brief adventure. They hadn’t been gone long when it was abundantly clear he needed a nap, no sleuth hat required. I decided that since my strategy with my granddaughter had worked so well, I’d give it a go, although I doubted my ability to hold this older, much heavier baby of mine for as long.
We shuffled off to the quiet, dark stillness of my bedroom. He was crying, big heartbreaking tears. I decided I needed additional arsenal and opened the music app on my phone and selected my Baby Lullabies Orchestra playlist. I started rocking and swaying and gazing deep into his beautiful blue eyes. He stared back at me, his bottom lip quivering, but he held his eyes on mine and held onto my hand. Within a few minutes I felt his little body relaxing against mine. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. After a while, the arm his head was cradled in felt ready to fall off, the twist in my side like a corkscrew lodged in my ribs. But his expression was so peaceful, and I knew he was so tired, I pushed through my discomfort, powered by love.
I realized as I held him and remembered how similar it felt holding my granddaughter, that my ability to nurture my babies really is a superpower. I suddenly knew what my blog was going to about. I felt compelled to share the powerful impact that being totally present and engaged with them gave me. I know we’re not all wired the same, and what I’m describing might not sound at all appealing, let alone powerful to you. Some of us aren’t crazy about babies. Some of us don’t really get jazzed about creating connections with other humans. But what I hope you take away from my musings is a curiosity to discover what experiences do have this effect on you. Once you figure it out, I encourage you to make as much time and space for them in your life as you can. Because if there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that life is short, each moment precious.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· In December 2025 I signed a contract with Austin Macauley Publishers for my manuscript, The Trials of Alex Anderson, a character-driven novel that explores the relationship between mental illness and trauma. I am now on the road to publication, with an expected release date near the end of 2026. I’ll be posting regular updates here on my blog and on social media, so stay tuned for exciting new developments.
· The Rogue Scorpion is available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find it at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer