家族の新しい門出 New start

家族の新しい門出 A new start for our family

３月３０日の金曜日、次女の新しい家が困難を乗り越えてやっと完成。その家を拝見に行った。あの古いお家の跡に立ち上がった新居は見違えるようにモダンで明るく、生活を楽しむこと優先に使いやすさを考慮したものとして立ち上がっていた。紆余曲折を乗り越えて出来上がった半分手作りのお家に夫ともども親として大喝采。孫もその家の主の如く誇らしげにわたし達をハウスツアーに案内してくれたのも感動であった。

お祝いにと思って数か月かかって彫って仕上げた壁掛け用鏡（日光彫）を持参したが、この和風の作品が果たして、洋風の雰囲気に生かされるかどうか、一寸心配。娘の旦那はおりしも同志と気仙沼に行って、子供達の為に集まった絵本を整理する本棚づくりに出かけて留守。このまだ終わっていない自分の家の引っ越しの仕事と並行してファザリングジャパンで活動している。娘もワークライフバランスを主張しながら会社務めを頑張っていて、二人とも新居をベースに子育て支援ボランティア活動を続けているのが何とも嬉しい。

 On March 30th, we finally were able to visit our second daughter's family and step into their newly built house which had been through many difficulties to clear. The house designed by her husband is proudly standing on the place where their old house used to be. We were impressed with the lovely house which looks modern and comfortable with lot of sun light coming in. Their priority went to the convenience to live in such a comfortable place where many friends could gather to share their life activities. Our grandson, 5 years old, was very proud of taking us to the new house tour with such clear instructions of each corner. He sounded cute and happy about what his parents and grandpa did for his family.

I brought in my labored work, a big mirror designed with Nikko-Bori (woodcarving in Nikko style) as a congraturatory gift but I'm afraid this doesn't match their western taste. I hope they decorate it somewhere in their new house. My daughter's husbad was away in Kesennuma for the weekend, one of the destroyed areas caused by the big Tsunami a year ago, with his comrades to work to install book shelves for children's use there as a volunteer activity.  In the midst of his own private moving works, he has been involved in volunteer activities as one of the members of the "Fathering Japan" . My daughter also has been very active in her working place as a representative of the group seeking for Work Life Balance. I'm happy about their positive children's support volunteer actitivity which which will be encouraged more by their new living circumstances.

翌日には孫の通う保育園の卒園式があり、今度年長組に進級する孫も送る側として出席するというので、爺婆もついでに出席した。１１人の卒園児童を送る式はハートのあるプログラムに仕立て上げられていて思わず保護者を泣かせる。私ももらい泣きした感があった。一人一人の卒園児童が順番に卒園賞状を貰って、それぞれの母親に賞状を渡しながら言った一言が胸を打たせた。「ママ、ありがとう。いつまでも見守っていてね！」なんて言われて場内は急にズルズル状態に。一つ不可解なのは卒園児童の保護者が揃いも揃って母親ばかり。男女共同参画社会を目指している筈なのに、このかたよりは解せない。

The next day we joined an event, a graduation ceremony of our grandson's nursery school. He wan't the one to be sent off but he was in one year younger group which was to attend the ceremony to see off  their one year older friends. We just happened to be there to observe what kind of graduation ceremony could be held. Only 11 children were to leave the nursery school for a primary school in April. Upon receiving their diplomas, they approached their mothers respectively and gave them their own appreciative messages like "Thank you, mom, for your kindhelp in everything!" or "Please keep watching me from now on too!" etc. Then their mothers started being moved to tears. Oh, my goodness! We all sitting in the back were also impressed and they seemed to prepare for their own case to come next year. There was a moving scene, which also impressed us. One thing I was disappointed with was that no fathers of those children showed up at all. We are now heading for the gender equality society. Easier said than done!

その後、皆で娘の義母が入院している病院へ。久しぶりのお見舞いであったが、以前より話しかけると反応があり、これも希望の光が射して嬉しかった。

After attending the ceremony we drove to a hospital, half an hour drive away to the north, to see Yasuko's mother-in-law who has been hospitalized for several years. She seemed much better than the last time. She seemed to understand what we tried to talk to her and respond to us by moving her eyes. She might be very happy to see her grandson growing so charming and smart. God bless you!

こういう感動をもたらしてくれて３月が終わったことに感謝。

Thank you for those happy feelings brought in around us at the very end of March.