Minnie’s Musings

Today we had the absolute pleasure of meeting our great nephew for the first time. And what a delightful young chap he is. Blue eyed, with a cap of soft blond hair, he is lively and curious, ready to run his parents ragged.

Being blessed with a new generation in any family is a wonderful thing. Especially so when the family has recently lost one of their number before their time. It reminds us that there is renewal in the face of great loss and therefore hope in the face of despair.

Of course I am now feeling decidedly broody and in need of grandchildren of my own. These are unlikely to be forthcoming any time soon. My eldest has recently bemoaned the men on dating sites who cannot understand and dismiss a woman in her early thirties who even hints that she is thinking about babies.

Of course you don’t think of these things if your own biological clock ticks away merrily until your fifties, but womenfolk are not so fortunate. Pregnancy is hard work so becomes a greater challenge as you get older. And the risks of problems rises with age. Of course there is a legitimate imperative to get one’s proverbial into gear. Though I suppose there is always the sperm bank and the chicken baster.

I can feel the stoney glares of my daughters piercing my euphoric shell as I type. They are preoccupied with career progression and hobbies, which is fair enough. I can but hope that Prince Charming will hove into view (I would settle for Joe or Jane Bloggs, but a healthy bank balance wouldn’t go amiss) and sign up for a joint and several mortgage, a commitment to filling the dishwasher as well as an appreciation of their delightful mother-in-law whose every word of wisdom will be hung on. They can’t object to that.