Did You Grow Up Knowing Your Grandparents?

**dolphin** · 08-19-2002, 01:24 AM

My grandparents were so wonderful.

My fathers parents were my favorite. My mothers dad died when she was 12 so I never got to know him but my bachelor uncle stayed with my gmother till she died. He was always kind of like my grandpa.

My mom's mother was always very frail and we always had to be quiet around her. The poor woman only stood 4'9" and had 13 children. My memories of her are only seeing her sitting in her chair making or sewing quilt blocks.

My dad's dad died on my birthday one year when I was in high school. He was great. The last years of his life, he would not let anyone else shave him except me. He didn't even care if I cut him. lol He loved me no matter what.

My dad's mom died 2 weeks after I got married in 1975. She was the most precious woman to ever have influenced my life. She was funny, she was active, she was very religious. She taught me to pray and she loved Jesus. She would go around all day long doing her chores singing or humming hymns. She would have us down on our knees for atleast an hour every night that I stayed with her. Lord that woman could pray!

She let me drink coffee (with lots of milk and sugar) and she made the best fried eggs, fat back and biscuits. She was the best.

I have always thought how cheated my little brother and sister were for never knowing any of our grandparents. Kinda like they missed have that strong since of family.

Did you know your grandparents? Any fond memories?

**lucy979** · 08-19-2002, 03:46 AM

My grandparents are still living. My daughter is getting the chance to have a relationship with her great-grandparents and I couldn't be happier. I don't think I would be where I am today if it hadn't been for my grandparents( mom's parents) taking care of me some times. They still help us out whenever we need it. I miss them so much because I am living in Germany right now.

**sixfreds** · 08-19-2002, 06:38 AM

I lived with my grandparents (my father's mother and father) so I knew them VERY well and have way too many fond memories and I know I woulnd't be so happy today if it wasn't for htem.....
I know my mother's mother (she is still alive) but I never knew my mother's father.

Eileen
p.s. my kids have a great time with their great grand mother and they other grandparents..

**~Sherry~** · 08-19-2002, 08:08 AM

My grandparents on my mom's side are both 70 yo. They are great. Mt grandfather found out a few months ago that he has lung cancer, so he's been battling that and dealing with chemo. He's a trooper. I can't wait to get moved back to PA so I can be near them.

My grandfather on my dad's side died before I was born, so I never knew him. My grandmother and I used to have alot of fun, though. I would go stay at her apt with her sometimes and we'd walk and get ice cream. She used to let me "cook" with crushed up crackers and stuff. We'd paint rocks and things. When she came to our house I'd make her go up to my room to plat. LOL Poor lady. She died in 1991 after falling and breaking her hip. She had a reaction to the glue they used to fix it and was first it a coma, then paralyzed. She was great though. I remember on my graduation day I got my cap and gown on and went to the nursing home so she could see me.

I hope Tyler has as much fun with his grandparents as I did.

**QuilterMom** · 08-19-2002, 09:05 AM

Yes, I did. One grandfather passed away when I was a freshman in high school and the other when I was a junior in college. One grandmother passed away 4 years ago and the other almost a year ago.

Sadly, my ds doesn't have my parents around (my mom passed away years ago and my dad walked out on us when I was in middle school). He does have my ds's parents, but they live far away and don't do much to stay in touch with ds.

**justjenn** · 08-19-2002, 10:15 AM

Yes, I did. My dad's dad died not too long ago, and my other grandparents are still alive. I am really close with my mom's parents.

**summercat** · 08-19-2002, 09:41 PM

I got to know all 4 of my grandparents plus step grandparents {I only remember my step grandpa}
My moms parents were the absolute best people I have ever known. I truly learned a lot from my grandmother who passed away 14 1/2 years ago. She taught me to bake & cook and to be organized as well as simple.
My granfather passed away when I was 11 but I remember him everyday. He taught me to ride my horses & to love animals as well as dance lol He was a true cowboy he had a farm where he raised lots of cattle & other animals plus had a full time job up until he got cancer and died.
My dads parents well I remember my grandpa, he loved to spoil me as all my grandparents did lol but we lost contact for 14 years as my parents divorced when I was 2 years old. Fortunately I got to see my grandpa a few times again befoe he passed. As far as my granmother lets just say I don't have any good memories of her.
My step grandpa {grandpapa as I called him} loved me as his own granddaughter & would always empty his pockets of change and tell me to put whatever there was in my bank because "I was gonna make something good out of my life" as he would tell me lol
I truly miss them and think about them all all the time.

**AandAmom** · 08-19-2002, 09:44 PM

Yes, I was lucky enough to know 3 of my grandparents. My grandfather on my father's saide passed on when I was 5. My Nana on my mother's side passed when I was 12, and my Nanny on my fathers side passed when I was 17. Dh is lucky enough to still have 3 living grandparents at this time

**AmyBoz** · 08-19-2002, 10:01 PM

I grew up knowing all 4 of my grandparents, and not only was I an only child, but my parents are both only children so I was also the only grandchild! Talk about smothered in affection! My Dad's parents lived in Ohio and I would go spend summers with them...just me and them. It was fabulous. My Mom's parents lived about 1/2 hour away from us in NJ, so we saw quite a bit of them. My Dad's mom (who was my favorite grandparent...there just aren't words to describe my Gramma) passed away when I was a freshman in high school. My Mom's mom passed away my senior year in high school. My Mom's dad passed away my freshman year in college. My Dad's dad wound up getting Alzheimer's disease and moved to NJ to live with my parents for awhile, but eventually needed round the clock care, so they moved him back to Ohio to stay in a full-time Alzheimer's care facility. It worked well for him because his coping mechanism of not remembering things had him thinking that he was in a hotel waiting for his ship to go out on Lake Erie (he worked on the ships his whole life). It was a happy place for him to be because he always thought he was shipping out the next day. He eventually passed away in 1995. I miss them all very much for different reasons. We live within 2 minutes each way from both my parents and dh's father (his mom passed away when he was 6 and his father never remarried.) I'm so glad she is getting to spend so much quality time with her grandparents.

**aylasmommy** · 08-19-2002, 10:05 PM

I had one grandpa pass away, and I fondly remember him teasing me at dinner like he was sneezing on my food..and remember him being so sweet to me..and his slow amble from his room to the breakfast table....and his blue bowl that he would mix an assortment of cereal, nuts, fruit and yogurt in..

I always stayed at their house sometimes for weeks at a time..my grandma is still living and is still at the big house I am used to..

On my other side.(they are also living).I moved in with them for a year in 8th grade..It was really fun..I watched my grandma scrimp and save every ounce of food..and saw her piles of empty margarine tubs/ used ziplock bags etc..they gardened and took care of a touring site..so I remember them taking shifts back and forth..OH and she ALWAYS made a full course hot meal everyday! (expect for the day they eat at the hospital) and her belgian waffles on sunday morning are the BEST!

**KathiS** · 08-20-2002, 03:11 AM

I never knew my Mother's parents. They both died before I was two. My father's parents raised me for two years while my mother was in a hospital with TB. They spoiled me to death! I adored both of them but, I was a real Pap pap's girl! I have their pictures in my living room. I want my grandchildren to know who they were. They have both been dead for twenty years or so but,I still think of them often.

**staceyy** · 06-18-2006, 12:04 PM

Yes, I knew and loved them all.

**rebecca** · 06-18-2006, 01:48 PM

Yes and I miss them terribly. The grandparents I am talking about are my mom's parent's. My dad's mom stayed home mostly and did not socialize very much, but my mom's parents were terrific. We always had holidays at their house, went up to their cabin. We would swim, water ski, go canoeing, boating. In the winter time we would go ice skating on the lake. Also, they had a home that is considered historical know in Bay City on Center Ave. We never gave it a thought about it being a historical house. It was grandma's house. We would watch the St. Patrick's parade at the curb. I loved listening to my grandpa tell about his life when he was younger. My grandma knitted, crochted, sewed, did needlepoint. I have one of her needlepoints she made hanging on my walls. Unfortunately, when we are younger we don't appreciate them as much as we should. I would give anything to see them one more time. They were so much a part of my life. Unfortunately they have both passed away. The memories I have of them will always stay in my heart.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 06-18-2006, 03:48 PM

I was lucky enought to know all of my grandparents. My children have been lucky to have my mother's parents here with us in Florida for the last 12 years. Unfortunatly my father's parents passed away about 10 years ago and lived between Arizona and Wisconsin. DS met them when he was young but never DD. But family lives on in our house in items that have been passed down from all our relatives. We often eat special meals off Great Great Grandma's China. We have meals that go back in our amily with odd names
like:
Dirty Knee Salad
Meatballs that Go Klunk
Julia's Lemon Pie
After Church Coffee Cake
Doggie Turds

My father's mother was a cook and baker in a lumbercamp in Northern Wisconsin from the time she was 16 til she was 25. Then she ran he husbands tavern which also sold meals. Her bread bowls, some of her aprons,
a rolling pin, and a few other items grace our kitchen and are used often.

Laurie in Bradenton