Time alone with grandma a special memory

When I was growing up, I only had one living grandparent. Most of the time, I felt like I didn’t really know my grandma because I had to share her with 20 other grandchildren, five of whom lived next door to her. We lived about 30 minutes away, so we only got to see Grandma about twice a month.

The summer I was 10 years old, my grandma insisted that I come spend a whole week with her. It would be just the two of us, and I was thrilled, to say the least.

The first afternoon I was there, Grandma went to a drawer and pulled out several new pillowcases and a small tablecloth. She let me pick which one I wanted. I quickly picked the tablecloth, which had a girl in a hoop skirt on each corner.

Then Grandma got out a basket of embroidery floss and needles. She patiently taught me how to embroider. The first few hours were trying for her, but she never once raised her voice to me.

For a couple of hours each afternoon, we’d work diligently on my tablecloth. By the end of the week, I had a good start on the tablecloth, and I had learned a new skill.

What a special time that was for us. Just a couple years after that, Grandma had a stroke and was never quite the same mentally.

It still warms my heart when I think of that tablecloth with the girl in the blue bonnet and hoop skirt on each corner. I will never forget that week when I had my grandma all to myself.

Deep River, Iowa

Grandma takes pride in grandsons

I thoroughly enjoyed raising my three daughters, but grandchildren awakened a different kind of love in me that’s hard to explain. My three grandsons and great-grandson are my treasures and the light of my life. 

One of my fondest memories is reading to my grandsons at bedtime, although I sometimes dozed off before they did. When I wasn’t with them, I taped their favorite stories and sent the tapes to them. They listened to these “grandma tapes” at bedtime and when they missed school. One story was played so many times, the tape snapped, and I had to record the story again.

All three grandsons are grown now, and the oldest is married. He recently became a father, and he asked me to make tape recordings for his son to enjoy someday.

I’m grateful to have been a part of their lives, helping them become the fine men they are today.

If I could, I would gladly do it all over again.

Sylvania, Ohio

Students celebrate Grandparents Day

When Grandparents Day was established in 1979, I saw an opportunity for my students. Sometimes we’d visit a nursing home nearby to visit with the residents and sing to them. On other occasions, we made cards, wrote poems and sent letters.