The Four Generations In One Car
We have a situation one day, as we were heading to a
birthday party. We decided to take my SUV since there is enough room for all of
us. My son will be driving and so my daughter-in-law will be in the front seat
with her husband driving. The rest of us will be crammed at the back. There are
six of us, me the Great grandmother, a new couple - my son and his wife, and a
family of three, my granddaughter, her daughter who's 11 and a baby. I sat
behind my daughter and in the middle is the baby in her car seat. Car seat
nowadays are huge, enough room for an adult person to occupy. This is how we
were seated, Me, baby and my granddaughter, Ana, on the same row. The last row is where my great-granddaughter
sits, all by herself, being the youngest. Well, she is not the youngest but
because infants need to be safe; she ends up at the last row and the four
generations in one car rolls to head to the party. It was my cousin's birthday and whole family
was there. From great grandparents to great granddaughters, you think it would
be chaotic? It was and we had so much fun!
Having four
generations in one place is the best thing in the world. For a moment, I sit in
a corner and watch everyone, as if watching TV for the first time; everyone has
a smile on their face. The oldest and the youngest are all there, their age
doesn't seem to matter. We really love parties like this because we get to know
our families from the youngest to the oldest. The cake was also worth its significance,
indulging our sweet tooth and there was enough for everybody. The food was
fantastic and it was flowing like water or rather mud, almost dry and heavy
from Enchiladas, Burrito, Arroz Caldo, and so on, it's like a mud slide but
tasty without the gooey mud color. It was festive and colorful with all the flowers
adorned. There was just so much food I pigged out! I should not but with all
the wonderful things around me, I have no urge to resist temptation today and
so I indulge to the best I can. The kids had fun with some games that the host
family planned out. And there was no crying at all except for the baby which was
not really happy to hear so much noise around, it's hard to sleep without being
awaken by the loud laughing and screaming of the older children. The baby would
drift into sleep and startled suddenly by the screaming during the game, the
baby starts to fuss and cry. We solved that by putting the baby inside the room
with a monitor and let the baby sleep while we continue the fun. Am sure, the
baby won't miss any of that as sleep is more important at the moment.
When it was time to say goodbye, we hang out by the door,
unable to just leave. It was hard but we have to leave for it will take us an
hour to get to our destination. Everybody has something to bring home, there's
too much extra food we'll help them eat and clean the house too, I mean the
party. It was a grad day to remember.
When I was heading to the SUV I noticed that my great
granddaughter was sitting in the front seat, busy with her iPod. She seems to
be so Okay that she seems ready to go home. So I went to where I was sitting
when we were coming and the rest goes on the second row me the baby and my
granddaughter. Now, my son was already in the driver side but my daughter was
still inside the host family's house. So we waited and waited until she came
out of the house. Then realize; that somebody was sitting in her seat. So I
said now where is Maria going to sit? I say it loud to get my great
granddaughter's attention but she didn't even budge. She was so busy with her
iPod that she couldn't even hear us talking about the seat. Nobody said a word
to her as I waited for any reaction. I waited and waited; hoping somebody would
tell her to go back to her seat. It did not happened! I decided to speak up. Ana,
you might want to go back to your seat at the back so your mom can sit in the
front seat. And she blurted out right there why do I have to sit at the back
all the time?
I began to wonder if she heard me earlier but didn't want to
give up the front seat. I was shocked but everybody agreed to silence, nobody said
a word I waited again. I waited if somebody would speak up. I was hoping to
hear from her mother, yet deafening silence is all I hear.
As I was the oldest in the company, I decided to tell her in
a calmly manner: Since you are the smallest, that place is perfect for you.
And I waited again, if she would move and go back to her spot.
Well, she did but with a pouty mouth. So we went home in silence and I was
thinking how in the world did that happen?
It is time to have a talk with everyone. From my
understanding, everybody was sympathetic to her having lost her dad. Yes, she
lost her dad and it was heartbreaking for a child. I understand that. But that
doesn't change the fact that she has a mother, grandmother, uncle, aunts,
cousin and all the relatives in her life. She needs to learn to know her place.
As a child, she needs to understand that losing a father is not losing her
life. Yes, a part is lost but a part is still there - her mom.
We had a talk after we got home. I invited them inside my
house and sit down to chat about it. We agreed from now on, we keep her dad
alive in us so she won't miss him that much. We told her about how we miss her
dad too but there is always tomorrow to look forward and someday, the pain of
losing someone you love will eventually be an instrument to be a better person
for the love of someone you lost.
I am relieved after the talk for she came forward and gave
me a hug. As she hugged me tight, she said: Grandma, you are right. I still
have daddy in me. See, I look like him. Thank you for your love.
