  Barry, my dearest friend in Florida, coined that title for me as I am embarking down the road of motherhood once again, with a grandchild.
Quite apt of a title I figure. Here I am, 47, with all of my children raised and grown adults and along comes my youngest grandchild (of 4), needing a reliable and stable home (due to her mother needing to take care of some emotional problems). So, here she is, almost 4, and needing love and guidance. She has lived here all her life, with me doing the lion's (pun intended! ) share of raising her, but at least Mom was here to help. Well, Mom isn't here anymore, she's off on her own, and I'm left to pick up the pieces. A judge gave me guardianship, so now, technically, I'm her Mom as well as Nama. A mother again, for a second time. I have mixed feelings about this, but above all else, I love this little girl (I call her, Kitten) as if I was her mom, so there was no hesitation as to whether I would take care of her.
It's just that sometimes I wonder, can I do this at this time and age of my life! I've forgotten how active little 4 year olds are. How demanding they are. How needy they are. And how loving they are. But I look into those gorgeous big blue eyes, see that beautiful cherub face, that most delightful smile and hear..."I love you Nama, SO much", then feel those little arms around my neck and everything becomes so right and into focus. And all of my "oldness" doesn't matter any more. Yes, I'm a Second Hand Lion, and a very proud one at that!
:-) And I am learning with my Kitten, that it is truly better, the second time around. ************************** What children take from us, they give. We become people who feel more deeply, question more deeply, hurt more deeply, and love more deeply. -Sonia Taitz, O Magazine, May 2003 Is maith le Dia cunamh. Go dte tu an cead! 
