Lifelines Bring Laughter
Raising a child without a lifeline is close to impossible or at very best, difficult. I realized this truth when our son Matt was a year old. My husband, Michael had a job that took him to other states from Sunday night to Friday night each week. I had a wonderful woman who would babysit for Matt a few afternoons. This was the time I would attend classes at our local community college.
Michael and I talked often about how nice it would be to live closer to family. We were living in Northern California. It was a beautiful place to live and I looked forward to visits from my family. It was a respite from the full-time job of being a parent. When Michael came home on Friday nights, I could finally relax and share the household and childcare duties. He was great with Matt. I loved hearing the two of them laughing when Michael would give him his evening bath. This was a special time and very needed.
When Matt was two and a half, we finally decided to move back to Wisconsin and to be close to our family. We moved to our new home and moved our mom in with us. What a blessing that was. Matt and Mom would spend their days together. Matt would come downstairs and climb in with his Grandma until she was ready to wake up. They would eat meals together and would enjoy each other’s company.
As Matt grew older, they would grocery shop together. Mom would instruct him to find three or four items and bring them back to the grocery cart. Matt learned the grocery store layouts like the back of his hand. He saved her many steps and helped himself to gain some independence.
During this same time, my sister and my nieces would also spend time with him. I remember coming home to find Lisa and Matt running through the sprinklers on a hot summer day. They were laughing and I felt it gave Matt time to get to know Lisa. I remember Michelle dressing Matt up in silly hats and taking pictures. Again, I remember coming to my sister’s house and hearing them laughing and carrying on. It made my heart feel so good. My sister had a symbiotic relationship with Matt. They would water flowers together and he and she would tease each other. He got a big kick out of calling her “kinky Aunt Sandy”. We never figured out exactly why but he would giggle uncontrollably when he teased her.
Looking back on those years, I realize how essential family truly was in shaping Matt’s childhood. Their love, laughter, and support were the lifeline we both needed. Michael and I often said that moving back to Wisconsin was one of our best decisions. It’s not just the grocery store trips or the sprinkler moments that stay with us, but the deep connections Matt formed with his family—connections that I know have shaped him into the kind, joyful person he is today. And as for me? I’m just thankful that, in the end, our lifeline wasn’t just a phone call away—it was right next door.
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