The Social Butterfly

Today has been one of those days that you feel like just happened in a dream when you wake up the next morning. My ex-husband's mother...DeVion and Donovan's grandmother, passed away last night. I found out early this morning on my way to teach my class. Immediately I thought about Edmond (my ex) and was obviously sad for him. But then I thought about my boys. DeVion is 7 and Donovan is 4. How do you tell kids so young that someone that they are close to is gone?

I admit, she and I have had a pretty rocky "relationship". We never really saw eye to eye on things. But regardless of our differences, she was my mother in law at one time, and she is the grandmother of two of my children. When I first found out that I was pregnant with DeVion at 17 and was still trying to finish Highschool she took me in. I lived with her for a few months while I kept going to school and eventually Edmond and I got our own place. She was there whenever DeVion had his surgeries and helped me to get him his SSI when he was a baby. She gave him a baby shower for me, married Edmond and I (she was an ordained Minister), and even after Edmond and I split I was able to occassionally talk to her about things. Why we didn't get along? Who knows and who cares...I knew that she loved my children despite whatever issues we had.

Edmond told the boys tonight that there grandmother was gone and DeVion is pretty sad. DeVion is the oldest of her 3 grandsons (he and Donnie have a halfbrother from Edmond that is 9 months old) and sadly, he is the only one that is really going to remember her. Donnie will have some memories...but it's not the same.

I am supposed to be studying for tomorrows class session but I needed to take a moment and reflect on the person that this family lost last night. She will definitely be missed more than she may ever know. She met me when I was a naive and silly ass teenage girl...and as a woman today I thank her for what I was able to learn from her.