Leaving

I have been so lucky to have been able to share nearly every moment of my beautiful granddaughter's first 18 months of life. I have wanted to be a grandmother since long before my daughters were prepared to be mothers. I knew I would love playing the role, but I could not have imagined how much I would love it. Now I am faced with the possibility that we will be living 2,000 miles apart. For the past month I have lived every moment with her as if it would be the last time I would see her for a very long time. I have worried even before she is gone that she no longer see me as one of the most important people in her life. Saturday we spent the day shopping. Sunday we went to a street fair (I did let her mother and father go with us :)). I rush home every day from school and we head outside to play, take a stroll or walk to the store. I have an 8X10 of me and Elmo that I need to have framed to hang in her new bedroom so that she will be forced to look at me every day. I am making a memory box that I will cover with things that are meaningful to us and fill with things that will hopefully spark memories in her young mind. I find myself daydreaming about her coming to visit me during summer vacation and reintroducing her to her hometown. As the day of their departure draws nearer I wonder if I can cram in all the things I want to do with her before she leaves. I'm sure that the minute I put them on the plane I will think of something I forgot to do. I remember when my daughters left for college and I felt such a hole in my heart. Is it wrong to admit that although she has not yet reached her 2nd birthday she will be be leaving a much bigger hole? Should a grandmother love her grandchild this much? I guess it doesn't matter whether or not I should, because the fact is, I do!