I’m your Canadian Grandma!
- Lou MacGregor
I was in the process of retiring from work. I had been a workaholic, and my husband, at times, would rein me in and say, “We didn’t get married for you only to work.”
But then my husband passed away, and I was retiring. All the plans we had for retirement had gone out the window. So, I thought, I’ll volunteer.
I went to a talk at CCIS, and they discussed immigration and how they have always needed people to help these people adjust to Canada.
In the end, I went up to them and said, “Here’s my phone number. When the time comes, you can call me.”
I think they called me the next day!
In a week, I was set up to meet with a Yazidi family. It was a family of a single mom with two children, but also as part of the family was her brother, his wife, and their little girl. So, it became a bigger family.
I met with them. They were all sitting there on the edge of the chair, and they were sort of looking, you know, confused and almost scared.
At the two-year mark, when my commitment ended with the family, I decided to stay with them, whether CCIS approved or not. Faiza was pregnant, and I was taking her to all the things related to pregnancy.
And when it was time for birth, Faiza wanted me to be with her in the labour room. I assumed Dad would go in, but she told the nurse she wanted me there. I don’t think she cared if Dad was there because that wasn’t part of their culture. Also, culturally, in that part of the world, you need someone like your mother’s figure, someone to give you that feeling of, “Don’t worry; it will be okay.”
How often does a non-family member get to go into the birth room?
And I was allowed to go in. When you’ve seen a child being born, it’s no longer just a volunteer; you’re now like a mom or a grandma. I just thought of this as a little miracle happening.
I was so proud and honoured that she wanted me in that room.
Norman, who was born in front of me, I call him my baby.
I keep telling the children, you have your grandma in Iraq. But I’m your Canadian Grandma.