A Letter to Grandma from Baby Charlie

Hi Nani,

What a different world it has been this year. While we have been separated by this crazy thing called Corona virus I have grown and changed immensely. The little baby you remember has turned one and I am such a different little boy from the one you held the last time we were together.

Mummy and Daddy have their fingers and toes crossed that soon the state borders will open and you will be able to travel to see us. Instead of looking and listening to each other over a screen we will have some wonderful time face to face together. I know you are looking forward to seeing us all, and if there are tears they will be ones of joy that say, ‘finally we are together’.

Just to give you a heads up when you are here with me here is a rundown of how we can spend this special time we will have: –

If when I first meet you again I appear uncertain don’t worry. I have been spending this first year of my life getting to know the people I love. I listen intently to their voices and mesmerise myself with their faces. I have been learning to trust them to be there for me and provide for my needs. It may take a little bit of time to get to know you once more but I don’t think it will take long.

Take your time with me. We have no meetings to go to, no agenda or need for a clock. Let me take the lead and show you all the new things I have discovered. Get down to my level on the floor. I love it when you lay down and become my climbing frame or hobby horse. If you stay in the same place I will feel comfortable to venture away and return to you. You are like my lighthouse.

Nani, the world is a fascinating place. That puppy dog that whips past me with its tail feels funny. The piece of fluff I spy on the floor is mind boggling and the pantry is my favourite place. There is so much to explore on the bottom shelf and I am big enough to reach it. Mummy and Daddy’s furniture is my jungle gym and as I move around I am learning – under, over, through and around. There are power pointy things at my eye level near the floor. What do they do, Nani? Just remember, all I need are your eyes to make sure I am safe from any danger.

I am learning so much with my senses. They are so finely tuned that I can sometimes feel overwhelmed with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes in my life. If that happens you will see it in my facial expressions, body language and responses. Help me calm with soothing, quieter activity. Gently sing, hum, or recite a rhyme to me. Rock me gently or let me cradle into your body as we look at a picture book. At times, let’s just look into each other’s eyes. Everything is so new that I take time to process it. Give me warnings if things are about to change with a gentle voice and simple words.

Talk to me and explain the world through your words. Tell me what things are called and point out the interesting sights around us. Pause in the conversation and let me ‘speak’. Even if it is my own special language at the moment my brain is taking in what you are saying.

The best place I have discovered is outside land. There are new textures to explore and my mouth finds things extremely interesting. Trees, grass, leaves, flowers, and birds. Wow Nani they all live outside this thing called our house. Things move past quickly and make noises – cars, buses, and trucks. Outside my window is the best movie screen ever. Let’s put going for a walk on our ‘to do’ list.

Now that I can walk, I am going to spend the next year of my life telling you what I have found out. All the time I have listened to everyone explaining things in my world. Soon I’ll start stringing words together to describe my adventures. Oh, what fun we will have Nani and poor Mummy and Daddy will have a hard time keeping up with me.

So looking forward to your visit Nani. Pack your bags soon. I can’t wait to see you.

Love, Charlie x

A blog dedicated to my friend Sal, affectionately known as Nani to her first grandchild, Charlie.

The experience I draw on: 14 years as a grandparent and over 20 years as an Early Childhood Teacher.