"Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. - Alex Haley"
Having spent this yuletide season with my own parents and Noah's grandparents, and spending the new year festivities with Mrs T's parents, conveniently enough also Noah's grandparents, I am delighted to post the below advertisement for the upcoming Grandparents Information Day hosted by Down Syndrome Ireland after some sterling work from the tireless and ever-excellent Nan P.
I was fortunate enough to visit my own Grandmother over Christmas and introduce her to little Noah. As my sole surviving grandparent, it was a special moment when at 92 of your finest years old, she was able to hold my little boy and remarkably quieten his incessant snoring up to that point. The quote at the top of this page alludes to the stardust that Grandparents sprinkle and, maybe it is the Christmas cheer lingering in my system, but I am warmed greatly by that allusion. Christmas has a slight shadow chez The Muse as we sadly lost my own Granddad Mac at Christmas time many years ago now and Nanny Mac too during December but in Noah, we now see new Granny and Granddad memories being forged and this is a delighful thing to behold. Too often grandparents are overlooked but with events like the below-mentioned starting to take shape, this should happily no longer be the case. If you only make one New Year resolution this year, be sure to think more of your own grandparents and make that extra effort where you can. Our own parents too need us in the hard times as we have so often needed and relied on them, and as they take the new path into Grandparent-hood, let us all help them along this most unknown of journeys. Fair tidings to all and to all a good night.
DOWN SYNDROME IRELAND GRANDPARENTS INFORMATION DAY
14th January 2009, 10.30am - 3.30pm, The Trinity Room. The Gresham Hotel, O’Connell St, Dublin 1.
Facilitated By: May Gannon - Counsellor. Joan Murphy - Clinical Co-ordinator. Grainne Murphy - Independence Officer. Pascale Claes - Grandmother.
ALL GRANDPARENTS WHO HAVE A GRANDCHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME ARE WELCOME.
Phone the National Office on 01 4266500or email info@downsyndrome.ie to confirm your place!
