OP-ED: The grandest of gifts
It’s hard to believe 22 years have passed since we first became grandparents. And now there are six bright stars in our family constellation. But the day our first grandchild arrived, our lives changed dramatically and permanently. It was the beginning of a journey that shaped our sense of who we are.
We watched that first child grow from a curious toddler into a thoughtful young man who just graduated from college and is now a commissioned Army lieutenant about to begin life as a medical professional. Wherever the Army sends him next, we know he’ll carry that same steadiness and unassuming leadership he’s had since boyhood. We see a man who once held our hand crossing the street now prepared to hold others in service and sacrifice.
Next came his sister, sharp-as-a-tack and uniquely determined from the start. She’s heading into her sophomore year of college. Like her brother, she is following the same nursing path, and like her siblings, she is an academic rock star. Warm-hearted but no-nonsense, she lives life with a sense of purpose and commitment beyond her years. I smile just thinking about her. With her laptop and Starbucks, she is always ready with her million-dollar smile or a reassuring hug.
Our oldest Pittsburgh grandchild arrived one year later and is now university bound where she’ll study broadcast and film writing. She’s always been expressive, funny, articulate, and creatively driven. Be it in music, art, or writing, when she finds her voice, her stories will reach the world. She makes us incredibly proud.
The following year another granddaughter arrived, who is now entering her senior year in high school. She’s a standout athlete, an honor society member, and an academic force. There’s an engineer’s mind developing there, but also an old soul — a young woman who sees the world with clarity and depth. She listens carefully, speaks wisely, and reminds us that leadership can be quiet yet powerful. Oh, and she bakes up a storm.
Our youngest granddaughter is starting her junior year as a spirited cheerleader who is showing a keen interest in fashion or teaching. Her flair for business and kind cultivation is equal in measure. We see in her someone who will make the world more beautiful. Her presence lights up any room she enters.
Finally, the youngest of that gang is just 10 and heading into fifth grade. He’s all about possibility. All dreams. One day he’s a jet pilot, then a doctor. He has that unfiltered enthusiasm that reminds us what it was like to see the world as one big adventure. He fills our house with that pure joy only a child can bring.
Together, they’ve filled our lives with everything: Laughter echoing through our home at holidays, serious conversations during walks or over pasta or pierogies, orneriness at bedtime when no one wanted to sleep, and tears — some from scraped knees, others from bittersweet goodbyes. They’ve written their stories all over our hearts.
Every milestone — first steps, first dances, college acceptances, and even heartbreak — has become part of our collective family story. Every holiday, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas to the Fourth of July, has been richer because of their presence. They fill every room with meaning.
Being a parent was often a challenge. Being a grandparent, however, has been its greatest gift. It’s the quiet joy of watching the next generation bloom and knowing even when our names eventually fade to a whisper, that we were part of their foundation.
There is nothing more sacred about being loved by a child who knows you not as a provider but as a trusted source of stories, snacks, and unending encouragement. During ordinary days, they gave us extraordinary memories. In return, we’ve given them our time, wisdom, and unconditional love.
Looking back on these 22 years, we are filled with pure gratitude. What a fantastic thing they’ve done. They made our lives whole.
Nick Jacobs resides in Windber.