Learning from the Best

My mom and I went to visit my Grandma the other day. She lives in the Memory Care unit in a local retirement home. It struck me what a beautiful name for a living space of those suffering from memory loss—Memory Care.

When we arrived, Grandma was at lunch. I was taken back when I walked into her room and saw this sitting on her bed…

Honestly, it made my heart swell with so much love for her. For what she has taught me in the care of babies. In the same way it made my heart swell with love for her, it was also bittersweet as this could mean a sign of the disease progression.

I am not an expert in how you are to talk with those who struggle with memory by any means. However, I decided later that afternoon in talking with her, that I would embrace this baby she had in the room with her. The nursing staff said she absolutely loves taking care of the baby. In talking with Grandma, she asked if the baby was sleeping through the night. In light of what I do every day, this was just a priceless conversation and I feel validates every one of us as new mothers and families of newborns. It’s been the topic of taking care of babies for each generation. And the swaddling? She has that down too—and knew how important it was to help that baby feel secure.

I would give anything for Grandma to understand and talk with me about Shine. But in some ways, she is.