Continuing the circle, one baby at a time
I know, I know. Every mother thinks their child is special. That's part of being a mother, I guess.
So I hope you will excuse me if I tell you that Sutton Gore is a wonderful baby. And smart. And strong. And beautiful. Typical things every mother says, I'm sure.
She is named for several of our family members. Mary is Greg's mom's name; Louise is my grandmother's, my mother's and my middle name.
Sutton, which we call her, is my great-grandmother's surname.
Naming her Sutton is fitting. If it wasn't for Grandmother Sutton, my mother said she never would have made it through my first days in this world.
When I was born, my mother had a 3-year-old and was keeping my 18-month old cousin. With three little ones at home, Mom had her hands full. One day, my Grandmother Louise came in to find mother at the end of her rope. Since my grandmother worked full-time, she called her mother, my great-Grandmother Sutton. She came in and helped my mother for a week.
Her main task was me. I had my days and nights mixed up, wanting to sleep all day and cry all night. Grandmother Sutton kept me up all day so that I would sleep when I should. Within a week, she had me on a schedule and gave Mom some hope and much-needed relief.
Fast forward 37 years. This week, it was me who was relying on grandmothers for help. Greg's mom and my mom spent a week with us after the birth of Sutton. They brought along with them the wisdom of raising a combined six children and were there to answer my questions and soothe my fears.
"You'll be fine," they both said a hundred times, as they went on to add it was obvious their new granddaughter was both a genius and a great beauty.
It's amazing to me how things come full circle. Years ago, my sweet Grandmother Sutton was the one changing diapers, soothing a crying baby and reassuring mom. This time, it was a new set of grandmothers taking over the reins, helping a new mom learn her way through.
Just like my mother all those years ago, I'm grateful for the help. And maybe, one day, I will have the chance to help Sutton with her own babies.
But that is years from now. Until then, I will just enjoy the time I have with my sweet baby girl, secure in the knowledge that her grandmothers and all their help, is just a phone call away.
