I work independent living retirement housing (I am the development manager) today one of the residents proudly came to show her the 10 min old picture of her brand new great-grandson. She was beside herself with joy and telling me about her first great grandson's birth and how that had gone and how much smoother this one had gone, marvelling at how wonderful mum looked with her 10 min old baby.
She then looked at me and said " oh I worry I won't bond with this one as much as I did the first great-grandson" I reassured her she for certain would (she is a doting great grandma for this 3-year-old boy who is a sweetie) but after it really sat with me.
I can remember worrying about being able to love my 2nd when I was expecting her (and my 3rd and my 4th) and I worry about what it will be like to get grandchildren and how I will love them. Here is this amazing 89-year-old who is just the kindest soul you can imagine and she is still worrying if she can love and bond with a great-grandchild as much as she did her children and her grandchild and great-grandchild.
We are so harsh on ourselves yet I we time and time again fall in love with out new family members.
I guess I had never considered that to still be a concern when I am almost 90
Not fully sure what my point is with this thread but I suspect people reading it will get me.
Also mother and baby is doing well and he really is adorable to look at :)