Such A Dilemma

Sonoma – 08/25/2012 — with Paul Smith, ZMom Smith,
Jake Koens, Sitara Wilson, Moses Smith and Devin Maxon.

Oma is getting ready for an exciting trip to the Sonoma Raceway to spend time with your Uncle Moses and Auntie Sitara. Uncle Moses is your Daddy’s big brother. Oma can’t wait to see Moses. However, at your mom’s doctor’s appointment, the doctor says that baby Reef could be born very soon. Oma really does not want to miss your arrival; such a dilemma.

Oma is not an expert; so google was consulted. It appears that cervical dilation is not a good indication of when exactly a mommy will have her baby.

A mommy can be 36, 37, or 38 weeks pregnant, 2 centimeters dilated and not have her baby for several weeks. On the other hand, the mommy can be 2 centimeters dilated and be in very early labor or pre-labor having a couple contractions an hour and maybe have a baby within the next couple days. The mommy can also be 2 centimeters dilated and be having very long, hard contractions that are close together. In this last scenario, that mommy will have her baby very soon. You can actually be in late labor or in transition, but your cervix hasn’t caught up yet and is showing early labor.

In other word – Baby Reef’s arrival remains a mystery. Research tells Oma that it’s not uncommon for a mommy to be up to 2 centimeters dilated several weeks before giving birth!

Oma is going to enjoy her trip to the Formula Car Challenge West presented by Goodyear Race 11 & Race 12 at Infineon Raceway. Uncle Moses’ Series (Formula Mazda) is a Special Support Race for the Indy Gran Prix of Sonoma!

Be an understanding baby and wait for your Oma and Opa to return home!

Is there a perfect age to become an Oma?

Today is Oma’s birthday; fifty-nine years on this terrain. This special personal day set me to philosophize – soon baby Reef will be born. Is there a perfect age to take on the responsibility for grandparenting a child?

The bible informs us that “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged.” (Proverbs 17:6)  Grandparenting is an opportunity to play, to love someone new, to appreciate the magic of a developing mind, and to be needed by someone again.

Oma and Opa can:

• Share the things they're passionate about with a new audience.
• See the world in a new way through younger eyes.
• Experience games, music, nature, reading, and other interests in conjunction with a curious young mind.
• Provide expanded support and encouragement to their grandchildren.
• Use their breadth of experience to avoid the pitfalls they may have encountered as parents the first time around.
• Watch children develop through all stages of growth.
• Learn about their grand kids' music and passions.
• Provide input that parents cannot.

Becoming a grandparent at a too young age can make you feel prematurely old. Also, if the new Oma or Opa are still busy and/or in the middle of their career; they might not be able to spend quality time with their new prodigy.

Considering these facts and to answer my own question; now is the perfect time for me to become an Oma. The perfect time to have your grandchildren (although we have no say in their arrival) is when you have the time to enjoy them.

I work from home and have a very busy but flexible schedule. I am thinking that Reef will be the first sparkling jewel in this Oma’s “Crown Of The Aged.”