One of my nieces just gave birth to her first child. More details on that later!
It was a joyous occasion for so many reasons. This baby is the first of a new generation, making it the first grandchild and great-grandchild in our family.
When my niece and her husband shared the exciting news last fall, my 93-year-old mother immediately decided she wanted to knit them a baby blanket. She was undeterred by the fact that she hadn’t picked up knitting needles in over 40 years—she was going to knit a blanket, no question about it.
The project quickly became a source of joy. Choosing a pattern, selecting the yarn, and getting started gave us both something to focus on and share. My mom and I talked about the blanket often, troubleshooting and fixing little mishaps along the way. It had been years since I had knitted anything myself, so it was a good refresher for me, too—not to mention a wonderful way to spend time together.
Since my niece and her husband chose to keep the baby’s gender a surprise, my mom picked a beautifully striped, multi-colored yarn.
The Knitting Challenge and an Unexpected Lesson
Fast forward to the final stretch of the project. My mom was down to the last section of the blanket when—disaster struck. Something went wrong, and neither of us could figure out how to fix it. I had no idea what to do. With the baby shower just a few weeks away, I envisioned having to unravel the entire thing and start over. (Yes, I can be a little dramatic…)
But as luck would have it, the day my mom showed me the issue, I was heading to my monthly crafters’ group. This delightful gathering brings together people who quilt, crochet, make cards—and, most importantly for us at that moment—expert knitters.
I convinced my mom to come with me, hoping for a little guidance. Imagine my relief when not just one, but two experienced knitters came to the rescue. In about twenty minutes, they had everything sorted out. I was incredibly grateful—and beyond relieved!
It was a small moment, but it left a big impression on me. It reminded me of something I’ve had to learn (and re-learn) many times in life: asking for help is not a weakness—it’s a strength.
The Power of Community
Community—whether it’s family, friends, colleagues, or even a group of hobbyists who gather once a month—has an incredible way of lifting us up, filling in the gaps, and making the impossible feel possible.
In this case, a simple act of asking for help saved my mom’s knitting project. But in a bigger sense, it reinforced an important truth that you’ve heard me say before: we are not meant to do everything alone.
We are wired for connection, for shared experiences, for helping and being helped. It’s in these moments—whether big or small—that we see the beauty of human kindness and collaboration.
A Great-Grandmother’s Intuition?
Now, back to the baby.
Throughout the pregnancy, my mom had a funny habit. Whenever she talked about the baby, she would say, “My great-granddaughter is coming in February.” I think she meant to say, “My granddaughter is having a baby in February,” but that’s never how it came out.
Each time she said it, people would ask, “Oh, so they know it’s a girl?” And she’d reply, “No, they’re waiting to find out.” It happened so often that I started to silently wonder… did she somehow know?
Well, it turns out—she did.
My niece delivered a healthy baby girl.