The Importance Of PeePaws

When my father died, I remember the gift of my grandfather stepping into the gap my father's absence left in my life.  He was there when I needed him.  He would take me with him whenever I wanted to go and he tried to impart his beliefs and morals into me.  He did a rather good job as I am the person I am today partially because of his convictions and beliefs.  He helped me understand how to be a good Christian woman (with some help from my grandma) and he helped me see how important the people who protect our country really are (as he was a veteran of the Korean War).  My beliefs about gun control and small government are in part from his wisdom.  When my grandpa passed away in 2006, I felt like I lost my father all over again.

The day that Nate and I found out we were going to be parents, I wondered what 2.0's grandpas would be like.  My father in law has no other grandkids and while my stepdad has a couple, he doesn't get to see them very often.  What would it be like for them to have this little tiny person in their lives?

At first there wasn't much of a difference.  I don't know what it is about men and babies, but they just don't seem to care for them much unless they are their own.  Nate didn't mind a brand new baby, but the grandpas weren't as interested in him.  Maybe it's because he's breakable at that age?  I'm not sure.

Now that 2.0 is almost 2, he's more active and participates in things.  He's talking and able to express emotions.  He's able to crawl up into a lap and stay there and he's able to smile and laugh.  I'm seeing different grandpas now.

We went to visit my mom and stepdad a couple weeks ago and my stepdad was very excited to see my son.  He was down on the floor talking to 2.0 and playing with him.  They'd hang out on the couch and watch TV together.  I've never seen my stepdad so excited to see someone other than my mom in the entire time I've known him.  It made my heart warm.

Yesterday Nate and I celebrated our birthdays with my in laws.  As soon as 2.0 saw my father in law, he was smiling and laughing, pointing at him and saying 'PeePaw!' over and over.  For someone without a nap after a time change, 2.0 was a little crabby and he crawled up to sit with my father in law, laid his head down on PeePaw's tummy, and passed right out.  The simple fact that my son feels so safe with his grandpa blew me away.  I'm so very touched and thankful for it.

PeePaws are important, especially to little boys.  PeePaw is the one that gives that extra validation that maybe Daddy didn't give or couldn't give.  My dad couldn't take me shooting, but my grandfather did.  There's really no other relationship a child has that's like the relationship he has with his PeePaw.

I'm very thankful for my son's PeePaws.  He loves them both.  As he gets older, his PeePaws are going to be more and more important to him.  Hopefully neither of them have to step in like my grandfather had to, but if something like that happens someday, I know both of them will do a fantastic job.