Children are SO impatient these days

[DFW]

My US-based daughter was due to give birth to her second child at the end of the first week in April. To be there in time, my wife had booked a flight to New York for next Wednesday, March 29th. I can’t make it quite that early, but I was planning to come, too.

Well our new grandson was having none of that, and decided to make a sudden appearance shortly after midnight. Our daughter texted that he was even bigger than his older brother. If that is so, they should have named him Paul Bunyon, because her first son is, at age 3, already a good-natured cross between a Sumo wrestler and a lumberjack. Instead they named him after the capital of Jamaica. That is something I would never have done, but that’s not my department (says Wernher von Braun).

So, in a week of strikes and cancellations, missed appointments and hastily re-scheduled work in five countries, we need to take a few moments off for some congratulations, some re-arranged USA travel, and some getting used to a new family member with an unusual name.

Other than that, same old, same old……

[questionseverything]

1. Congratulations 🍾🎈🎉

[DFW]

10. Thanks!

I guess there is rarely such a thing as perfect timing, is there?

[Docreed2003]

2. Congratulations! 🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉

[DFW]

11. Thanks!

Considering the cast of characters, I should probably add that in German, Russian, Hebrew and Spanish. These two boys are getting a better head start than their parents, and between my daughter, her husband and the nanny, they are already getting exposed to English plus the above four. I can handle the German, Spanish and Russian, but I'm lost when it gets to Hebrew. I never had any exposure to that. Our granddaughters in Germany are "only" getting exposed to German and English, but the one who will be 5 in May is already talking to me now in English, whereas at Christmas, she was still talking to me only in German, although when I answered her in English, she already understood it.

[MiHale]

3. Hey Grandpa...congratulations...

[DFW]

7. Thanks! This is the fourth time.

Supposed to be the last, but never say never.

Our Germany-based daughter has two girls, and our NYC-based daughter now has two boys. Sounds like a good balance to me. Ironically enough, my wife and I had two girls and my brother and his wife had two boys. Most people say, "no way in the world!" when they are together and they are presented as first cousins. Our girls are typical blonde Germans, and their cousins are half Japanese with their Asian features being very prominent.

[brer cat]

4. Congratulations! Wishing good health and long life.

[DFW]

12. Thanks! That's the way it's supposed to be.

Little ones grow up and carry on after we're gone. The "after we're gone" part is hard to accept, since the unsaid implication is "you're next to go," but that is the way of the world. We can only hope to be around long enough to be able to talk to them intelligently and guide them with whatever outdated wisdom we think they might want to hear (and we're usually wrong).

[2naSalit]

5. Congrats, Grandpa!

[DFW]

9. Thanks!

I'm still not used to that!

[2naSalit]

13. It takes a while sometimes.

It seems it took me a while to get used to "Aunt 2na"... and those kids are in their 40s now!

[DFW]

14. My daughter in NYC just turned 40 three weeks ago.

All of my three "fabulous females (the exact words of the great Stan Lee)" looked, and still look younger than their years.

I don't, but I married up............

[Cracklin Charlie]

6. My family was expecting two new babies this spring.

The first one was to be born late March, the second in mid April.

Both babies came a month early, and the quilts I made/am making for them, are late.

Both babies doing very well. Congratulations!

[DFW]

8. Congratulations right back at ya!

Seems to be the season............

[Fla Dem]

15. Congratulations Gramps!!! All the best to Mom and Dad.

[DFW]

17. I think they are still reeling.

But so were we 38 years ago. Why should they get off any easier?

[mountain grammy]

16. Congratulations!

Did they really name him Kingston? I love it!!!

oh how I enjoy my 5 granddaughters, and, hopefully, a great one of these days, but not too soon.

[DFW]

18. Yep. They really did.

I hope he doesn't have too many Jamaican kids in his elementary school !!

Now we have to wonder what to call him? King? Or by his middle name: Sky.

And my daughter has probably never even heard of Johnny Cash. Come to think of it, that is probably just as well.

[niyad]

19. Congratulations, grandpa/opa. Altough I am not sure why any child would be

in a hurry to enter our insane world, I am so happy for you and your wonderful family. Safe travels.

[DFW]

20. Idle curiosity, maybe?

I don't think he thought it out carefully before deciding to play "Oskarchen (see The Tin Drum).

Thanks for the kind words!!

[WinstonSmith4740]

21. Congratulations!

Never had children myself, but my sister always said that grandkids are your reward for not killing your kids when they were teenagers!

Do we get to see pictures?? Understandable if you don't want to put them up.

[DFW]

24. Here is the little man who just got a brother, plus his 2 cousins in Germany

Last edited Sat Mar 25, 2023, 06:10 PM - Edit history (1)

He will be 2 in 3 weeks. This is from last month:


And here are his two cousins in Germany. They will soon be 3 and 5 (May and June). This is from a year ago:


OOPS!! The little boy is so big, I totally forgot. He will be TWO in three weeks!!! He is already way bigger than his 3 year old cousin.

[highplainsdem]

22. Congratulations, DFW! Another grandchild to enjoy!

Love kids. My newest family member, my youngest niece's son, arrived several days ago - a bit late (which can mean complications), but healthy and large.

I like your grandson's name, Kingston. Do your daughter and son-in-law love Jamaica?

[DFW]

25. I don't think they've ever even been there! n/t

[True Dough]

23. Congrats on the new grandson

At least Jamiaca's capital is Kingston and not Maggotty!

[DFW]

26. That's Jamaica's good fortune

I don't think the capital city of Jamaica was really the determining factor

Of course, if they had named him Ocho Ríos, there would have no room for doubt

[elleng]

27. Welcome, Kingston!!!