Children-grand children.

I have a step-grand baby...well, really a toddler/little boy, but still he is my grand baby and maybe the only one I will ever have.  My oldest, Sam,  doesn't want kids and has several good reasons for her decision.  My youngest doesn't want kids of her own.  She is not a "baby person"...neither of my girls are for whatever reason and I respect that.  

My youngest, Bryen, went into her marriage with her eyes wide open.  She knew she would have a stepson and she was ok with that.  Unfortunately, due to someones meddling, the baby's mom was led to believe that Bryen hates babies and wanted nothing to do with the little guy.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  She doesn't want to have children, but is perfectly ok with this little guy...and since the mom finally started giving her a chance, Bryen and her husband, Claude, have had the chance to get to know Sky who is a very loving little boy.

He doesn't talk much yet.  He CAN talk, he just chooses to make noises instead.  I am sure this kid could charm crows out of the trees because he can sound exactly like a crow, along with many other sounds.  And his laugh is contagious.  When he laughs, you can't help but laugh with him.  

He is far from perfect and can throw a temper tantrum with the best when he is tired.  But so can most.  And even then, in full tantrum, I can be serious and let him know I am not going to put up with it, but at the same time, I can laugh because it isn't a big deal anymore.  I guess that goes along with being older when you are dealing with kids.  It was harder to deal with a tantrum when I was younger.

Now, many people tell me "Oh, your girls might change their minds, they are just young yet."  Yes, that is true, but they are also 25 and 27.  Old enough to know their own minds and if they choose to not have children, then I don't think it is fair for me to hold onto hope that they will change their minds.  I would LOVE to have more grandchildren.  But I refuse to pressure them and hoping that someday they will change their minds may put pressure on them without me realizing it.  Would they love their own child?  I am sure of it.  But if they don't want kids, then I hope they never have one.  

The world is changing.  The girls and I talk about it often.  Parents thrown in jail for disciplining their child.  Not beating or abusing, just swatting the child on the butt for bad behaviour...someone sees it and the parent ends up in jail.  Yes, it has happened here in Canada.  :/  Kids have a "You can't touch me" attitude as they are told from early age that parents can't touch them.  Bryen and I have talked about genetically modified foods.  It is in the news now...and the more you learn about them, the scarier it gets.  They don't have to be labeled, they ARE on the market and we aren't being informed.  We talk about chemicals in foods that make children mature MUCH faster than they should.  We talk about wars and pollution and all that sort of thing and that is another reason she doesn't want a child...she doesn't want to bring kids into a world that seems to be falling apart at an ever increasing rate.  I cannot fault her for that.  

Once in awhile I feel a pang of regret that I will never have blood grandchildren to snuggle and spoil but then I look at all the things I have to be thankful for.  My children are happy and healthy.  They know what they want in life.  We have a very good relationship and they can talk to their father and I about pretty well anything.  I refuse to wish for MORE when I have so much already.