My first grandchild is due at the beginning of February. Garion and Tessa want me to be an active part of Elaena's life (yes, we know the gender and she is already named), and I want to be as well. But, Garion thinks I won't be able to manage Elaena and a service dog, out on my own. I think he is wrong.

Garion thinks I won't be able to push a stroller and hold on to Cookie Monster's lead. I push a shopping cart and hold on to Cookie Monster. He knows how to walk by a cart. A stroller shouldn't be any different. And I can always hold Elaena in a baby sling or front carrier, hold on to Cookie's lead, and still have 1 hand free.

Garion think I won't be able to load Elaena and Cookie Monster into the car by myself. Cookie Monster walks to the car from the house and loads into either the back passenger seat or the cargo area on command. No problem there. I carry Elaena and voice command Cookie. Out in public, I load Cookie, then load Elaena, then load the stoller. Again, no problem. I unload the stroller, unload Elaena into the stoller, then unload Cookie Monster.

I think I'll be just fine. I've learned to adapt to doing a lot of things on my own or learned how to be able to do what I want/need with the help of a service dog. I'm sure I'll do the same with Cookie and Elaena. It will just be a matter of Garion seeing that I can do it on my own for him to realize that I can. I don't think he doesn't think I am capable, but he doesn't see how it would work. It's a lack of perspective. Once he sees me adapt to having Elaena and Cookie, as easily as I adapted to having Cookie, he'll understand. What he doesn't realize is how much adapting he has ahead of him, going from doing things alone to doing things alone with a baby. It's a learning process, but one we will both get a handle on over time.