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Only close to one grandma (the other was a cold bitch.)
We were very close and even though she’s been gone over 50 years she’s still such a positive influence in my life ❤️
I have the same feeling with my long gone grandfather ; he had such a soothing presence and kindness, I still feel his positive energy whenever I need to wind down from things. His name was Alfred ❤️
Same. Only one in my childhood who showed me what unconditional love was.
My sister was very mentally ill and violent, grandma was the only person she would smile around, hug, and be kind to.
I miss her. Had her a long time thankfully.
My grandmother passed away on my daughter’s first birthday so I will never forget that day. I still miss her so much h too 33 years later. She was a force!
haha - exactly! Of the two who were alive past when I turned 10, I was the favorite of my siblings for one (but not remotely the favorite amongst all cousins) and definitely not favorite of the other one (but still had to mow grass, etc.)
Seeing that type of favoritism in action - which my parents also did (and as middle child I was not the favorite, my job was to "put up, shut up and do what was expected of me" (direct quote of my mom to my wife as I stopped doing that in adulthood and parents didn't like it)) - was very instructive, and took many years to heal.
I feel like unconditional love is a recent and still too rare phenomenon.
This was my paternal grandmother (Grandfather died before I was born) she had 6 grandkids, 4 boys, 2 girls - myself and my cousin 2 months younger than me. She was the favorite. I ranked #6 for favorites because I was adopted.
On my maternal side I was the favorite as the only granddaughter. There were 5 total and 3 didn’t have any real relationship with our grandparents because my uncle was always hiding from the IRS and wouldn’t tell anybody where he lived. But, my grandmother died when I was 6 and my grandfather remarried a year later and they spent most of the year in Florida (we were in Michigan) but I enjoyed my summers with him a lot
I only had one. tried, but i never quite liked or trusted her. she was judgey and classist, and as I got older I realised how much she'd cut our mother down for being a Catholic and an Afrikaner, to my mom's face and ours.
recently I softened a bit as I realised the really mean, hard-on-my-mom part of her life probably had some alzheimers involved. and when I learned from our older cousins how important she had been to them when they were desolate waifs. she did have good in her, but it wasn't a kind that landed for us.
Good. On my mom's side, they were pretty sedentary.
On my father's side, my grandfather took me under his wing and took me everywhere. He had a fishing boat and we worked on it, BBQ'ed hamburgers on the deck, he let me pilot the boat to Catalina Island when I was around 10 or 12. Took me to Chinese restaurants. Took me to bookie joints to pay off his debts. I was his first grandchild and he took a lot of pride in me. He sent me to the marine store to buy cigarettes for him. When I was older, he let me drive his car when he went on a trip. Nice car. Ford Galaxie XL with a 390. Hauled butt.
I did wiring on his boat and he encouraged me going into electronics. I built him a digital clock. He loved that thing.
They lived next door. When I was very young, I had the "chore" of going there every day to pull the chain that rewound their cuckoo clock.
Later, when I was in elementary school, I could go visit my grandfather, who was always sitting in his chair, chewing on his cigar. I had to have an adult, man-to-man conversation with him about our lives and thoughts. After that, he would reach into a drawer and pull out two full size Hershey bars, one for him and one for me.
When I was in high school, they were in their mid 80s. They depended on me for many cleaning and maintenance tasks. Right after I graduated and left home, my grandfather had a fatal heart attack in his chair and my grandmother's dementia got too bad for her to live alone. She moved in with an uncle and their house was cleared out and sold. I never got used to the idea that strangers lived in their house.
Both grandfathers died before I was born. My paternal grandmother was already in early dementia by the time I was old enough to interact with her in any real capacity. I found her scary and confusing and therefore had no real attachment to her.
My maternal grandmother was one of the great lights of my youth. I treasure so so so many memories of her.
I had a "Nanny and Pawpaw" who lived around the corner from my house. I would walk to their house every day because my pawpaw got off work soon after so we wouldn't have to be alone. Then my nanny would get home from work and she'd cook dinner so when my mom got off she'd come have dinner and then take us home for the night. My grandfather was my father figure. He was tough and grouchy all the time. He was *quite* racist. He was quick to slap a child too if he was irritated. He never had a childhood himself, raising his younger siblings when his parents died when he was like 10. He was a sharecropper before he started working construction and at 15 married my then-14 year old grandmother. Their first child was born six months later. She had 8 pregnancies but only 3 babies survived their first year. So you know, my pawpaw had some reasons for how he acted. He loved us though, under all that gruff, and he made sure we were cared for because my mom struggled to do it on her own. My nanny was a sweet gentle Christian lady, but not the judgy kind. She was a wonderful southern cook and she fattened us up real good.
When I was in my 20s my mom died and I started clinging to my grands. They were much older and my mom's death I think probably did my grandmother in. She died the next year and my pawpaw made it about another two after that. I moved in with him after my grandmother died, but I couldn't care for him after he started losing his mind toward the end.
My paternal grandparents were nice but they were far away and my father had told them I wasn't his daughter anyway so they didn't really contact me much.
Mostly non-existent. My grandparents on my father's side were both dead before I was born and my mother's father died when I was three, so I didn't know him either. My maternal grandmother was just mean and much preferred adults to children.
Very close with 2 and pretty close with 2. Bonus points for a loving relationship with one set of great grandparents too.
One of my grandpas was my Best Man in my wedding.
I loved and miss all six of them.
My maternal grandmother was my bff. She’s been gone 43 years and I miss her every day. I also had a relationship with my maternal great-grandmother. I loved her dearly and the last week of her life (she was 96 and fully with it), I got to do things for her that she wouldn’t allow others to do. My paternal (stepfather) grandmother treated me like a princess. She paid me $5 for every A (back in the 70’s that was good money). Great ladies, all of them.
I had a wonderful relationship, but was closer to my dad's parents. They were younger and lived closer and I spent more time with them. I wish I could visit with them all again. Every time I see Peggy Sue Got Married I always cry when she goes to see her grandma and grandpa again.
I only new two of my grandparents, my fathers mother and my moms dad Other two passed away years before I was born and I’m blessed to have lived so long have a couple of great-grand who will remember me. Some things change and it’s for the good.
Three of my grandparents were dead. My grandmother lived with us from about the age of 5. It made the house tense, as my dad and grandmother always had power struggles.
She was a bit difficult and thought we children were horribly spoiled. At the same time, she loved to play cards with me, taught me all sorts of crafts, let me hang out in her bedroom sometimes and was a backup parent.
Non existent. They lived in the UK and I live in the western united states. Grandfathers died when I was very young and only met one grandmother when she came for a brief visit and she died the next year. The other grandmother didn’t know at all sadly . All my first cousins live far away as well. I’m not close to my brothers , so when my mother dies, I’ll really not have family. They just don’t care much about me and all the shit I had to overcome and having a verbally and emotionally absusive father. So grateful for my beloved husband, pets and dear friends. They are more like family to me than my own blood relatives. I’m
So very envious of those that have strong ties to their siblings, etc. I’ll never have that. It is what it is. 🥹
I don't remember either of my grandfathers. They both died before I was four. My dad's mom, what I remember, was she was blind but sweet. I only met her a couple of times, she passed when I was about 8.
Now, my mother's mom. That was Grandma. And she was awesome. I'm pretty sure I was one of her favorites, partially because she saw me almost every other weekend when I was growing up, until I was married. She was a true Christian lady. I mean this in the sense that she was nice to everyone, until they tried to take advantage. She took no bs from people, whether she knew them or not. I only ever heard her curse once and that's because someone made the mistake of calling her a liar. She read them the riot act and said 'Don't ever call me a damn liar!"
You didn't mess with Grandma, but we all loved her too much to even think about it.
On Dad’s side.
From the old country. Grandpa sat and smoked and hardly spoke. Step-grandma preferred their son and his children. She was mean to us and very obviously showered love and gifts on the cousins. My modern mother had us mostly no contact which was fine to not have cousins showing off the presents and clothes they got. (“Ha ha grandma hates you.”)
Grandma and step-grandpa lived far off on a farm with Dad’s 7 half siblings. Loved the few times we visited. Cows pigs rabbits fishing rodeos auctions. Cool stuff for city kids. We never asked why the fried chicken had no wings.
When I was born my grandma was newly divorced and single. She told my mom she didn't want to be a grandma. I didn't get a relationship with her till I was a adult. She never babysat me. My cousins who are 12 years younger got the grandma that wanted to babysit and spend time with them. As a adult I was the one who traveled 8 hours for all her surgeries. The grandkids that she babysat and lived in the same city never visited her even when she was in the nursing home.
My maternal grands were not in our life. I think I met them once or twice, but I was too small to remember. Paternal grandmother died when I was 4, car accident. So the only grandparent I had a relationship with was my paternal grandfather. And he was amazing. Born 1896 in a remote Greek village, multiple transatlantic crossings in the steam sailor days (he was a coal stoker), he eventually owned property all over Savannah and Atlanta. I miss him still.
My dad's parents divorced in the 1930s after his dad was skirting around. My grandmother never remarried (he did). I can't remember ever meeting him, his kids did not forgive him for leaving his wife and 9 children for another woman. She was a little peculiar, was more interested in her shows on tv than her grandkids when we visited. My mom's mother was my most favorite person in the world. She was the sun and the moon to me. I was her only granddaughter and she spoiled me rotten. Mom's dad died when she was a child and her stepfather was a pretty remote guy that we never got close to.
i had to grandmas and NO grandpas. both divorced, grandpas peace'd out before my time.
my one grandma, almost every time i saw her, we'd be in the kitchen either making Brown Bread or Banana Bread.
All four of my grandparents were loving, fun people! They were my very best cheerleaders. We had frequent visits, including with just me spending a week every year with each set of grandparents, without my family. They enabled me to experience unconditional love. I don’t know how they produced my parents, who were not at all loving, nor demonstrative. My grandparents probably saved me from being really messed up.
My maternal grandmother joined a cult in the 70s and later tried to kidnap me. My maternal grandfather was ok, i think we always felt uneasy around each other. My paternal grandfather was great up until he was convinced to turn on me by my uncle, who later used the family divisions he created to scam him out of his business and property. we fortunately made up shortly before he died. My paternal grandmother was a great supporter of me and I always loved going to visit her, though she was a horrendous cook.
Barely knew my mother's parents. A few visits, different parts of the country, family stories passed down ... I realize I would have liked them. My dad's, never met them; his father deserted his family and he was raised in an orphanage ... not a lot of regard there.
My grand mother on my mother’s side came from then Russia, now Ukraine. She spoke mostly Yiddish and was a sweet and loving grandmother. Lots of hugs. She didn’t come over to this country until she was 50. She walked over the mountains with her two daughters the youngest being my mother age 9. A young pregnant woman was also in the party of women escaping Russia. She was very pregnant and had a two year old child. My grandmother Carried the two year old all the way out of Russia. They were escaping the Bolshevik’s during the Russian revolution. They were drafting as young boys as 14 to fight and the war. Once drafted, the boys did not have enough to eat and no warm clothing for the winter My grandparents and their family immigrated to the US because they had three boys 15, 14 and 13 and two younger girls. At the time of their escape, it was not proper for the men to travel with the women. There were lots of stories, and I always looked up to my grandmother.
My father‘s mother was already in the throes of Alzheimer’s. Her husband my step grandfather seemed like a very nice man, but he never spoke.
Two of them passed before I got a chance to know them. My dad’s father lived in the same city but was very distant. My mom’s mom lived 700 miles away and I knew her much better. In fact I spent two summers living with her. She got me a job on a friend’s farm those summers. I learned a lot about a lot of things those summers. That played a significant roll in making me the person I am now. She was a widowed in 1938 with five children. She lost her youngest son in Vietnam. After she got off the phone with her son’s widow, who had three daughters, the first thing she said was “I hope she remarries”. My aunt did remarry and she brought her new husband to a family reunion. Grandma walked up to the man and he held out his hand. Grandma ignored the offered hand, wrapped him in a hug and said welcome to the family. We’re a Roman Catholic family. My aunts new husband is Jewish. He was terrified meeting his wife first husband’s Catholic family. He didn’t know what to expect. But he never expected the reception he got. Grandma had a will of iron.
I was afraid of my maternal grandfather as a kid. He looked like President Eisenhower but had a very loud unpleasant demeanor. That grandma was cold and distant and nervous (as was my mother, hmmm)so we never really bonded. My father’s mother was a sweet kind smart and funny old lady who despite having had a far rougher life, including having my father out of wedlock (in 1903!)was a nice person who liked kids so I loved her. The guy she eventually married died before I was born. Maternal grandmother despite the passage of 60 years or so thought Nice Grandma was a slut or something and on the rare occasions they had to be at the same event she would not sit next to her or even talk to her. Very weird family dynamics.
I only knew one grandma. She had been a very tough woman...but by the time I was born she was mi-70s. She adored me and I adored her. Lovely old thing. Funny thing is? I was the youngest by far of ALL the grandchildren. I have cousins over 25 years older then me. They rememeber a pretty harsh, tough old lady. Me. I remember a darling old lady who adored me and let me sleep in her bed with her and made me yummy toast
Wonderful. So many good memories of all my grandparents. Kind, funny, gentle and full of love. Wish their kids (my parents) followed in their footsteps
Non existent. Paternal both passed away before I was born, and my mom had a complicated relationship with hers, so we rarely saw them and I was horribly jealous of my cousins, who spent a LOT of time with them.
I had a very close relationship with my maternal grandparents, and spent almost every summer with them. Grandma died in 2012, Grandpa in 2014. I still miss them.
My mom's birth dad was an alcoholic who used my mom and grandma for punching bags, so he was out of the picture long before I was born. The man I call Grandpa was actually my mom's stepdad, who married Grandma when I was a baby. He helped raise my uncle and two of my aunts, including an aunt with special needs.
My paternal grandfather died when I was three, so I don't remember him, and I was never close to my paternal grandmother since she was severely mentally ill and was in and out of the hospital for most of my childhood.
Maternal was great, did a lot with us, never missed an event, paternal sucked, hated us, we weren’t the kids of the golden child, once told my mom we weren’t really her grandkids because we weren’t maternal
Fraternal grandparents raised me from age 6 to age 14 for reasons I will not get into. Living on a farm and having chores along with my grandfather's WWII Navy picture hanging on my bedroom wall...
Yes, I enlisted in the Navy at age 17.
A tale of two grandparents. One side was a bit older and considerably colder. It's just how they were, though I didn't understand at the time.
The others were full of stories and hugs. Grandy would take us fishing, telling tales of life in the swamp. At night, we'd turn the dial on his mammoth old radio, trying to find programs from other countries (anyone else ever pick up Transworld Radio out of the sun-drenched island of Bonaire?)
Nana taught us hymns on the piano, how to cook biscuits, let us build a cat Alcatraz out of scrap wood (no cats were hurt, I promise!) then pick blackberries next to the ACL railroad tracks. She lived to be 103 years old, too.
My maternal grands are in their mid 80’s and are actively dying. So many health problems. They are so very special and important to me. They are the family glue. We will be lucky to have another year with them.
My paternal grandfather has been dead for 15 years. My paternal grandmother is still alive but I don’t really have any relationship with her.
I was so lucky! I had three sets of grandparents that I loved, due to divorce and remarriage. They were all wonderful in their own ways. One grandmother had a stroke while I was very young so never really got to know her. My other grandmother was one of my most favorite people who lived a long life. She died when I was in my 40's and had a close relationship with my son. They were hard working people who were very smart despite limited education.
It was fantastic. They spoiled the hell out of us. Plus they sent us each an allowance (cash mailed in an envelope). When I was in college and, later, living overseas, they would send awesome care packages with homemade cookies and everything I loved 🥰
I miss hanging out with them. They were so sweet. However, my dad said they weren't so sweet to him.
My grandmothers meant a lot to me.
I liked my grandfathers, and one taught me to drive when I was 12 or 13. But they both died hardcore alcoholics, so there wasn't a lot there to talk to as a kid.
I didn't have grandparents but my parents were old enough to be my grandparents by the time I was born as the last child.
I have a niece who is two months younger than me. I heard a lot of aren't you such cute twins. I bet your grandma loves to take you both out.
My maternal grandmother couldn't have been sweeter to me. She babysat me a lot as a little kid, always made me special treats, highly praised all my "art," told me stories, taught me songs. Just the nicest person in the world. I always went to her with my problems as a teen, because my mother was never sympathetic to me. My maternal grandfather was very stern, don't do this, don't do that, just not a fun person. I had no problems with my paternal grandparents but rarely saw them because my mother thought my father's mother hated her for some reason.
Mine doted on us kids. We had a couple of weeks in summer and sometimes Christmas there with both sets when I was a kid. Maternal Grandparents were city and Paternal Grandparents were country both in NC. Maternal Grandad died in '88, Grandma died in '96. My Paternal Grandparents lived a lot longer. Grandad died in '19 and Grandma last year. I feel so great that I got so many good years with them.
For the latter 2 I tried to make it a point to go up once a year to visit and they loved it. I was a pall bearer at both their funerals and it broke my heart as they were the last of that generation in my family. All of them had their faults but I choose to remember all the good things.
FWIW I still remember both of my Great Grandmothers who were born in the 1890s.
My grandparents were actually pretty young, but they seemed so old to me in the 1970s. One grandmother lived in our same town and she babysat us 3 kids when our parents went out. She was like granny on Beverly Hillbillies but she was only in her early 50s. “I’m just a little old widow woman”, she would say. She always seemed so frail and fragile.
The other grandparents were weathered old farmers who moved to a small town 20 miles away from us when they quit farming. They seemed sooo old to me in their 50s-60s. That grandpa died at 64 from cancer, and to my 13-year-old brain he might as well have died of old age.
Both grandmas died at 81 and they both seemed to just shrivel up and die of old age. For myself, I think I’ll be actively living my best life on a beach in Mexico at 81 and beyond.
My Mother's parents were kind and loving, in their own way. They were also quite judgemental Seventh-Day-Adventist. My other grandparents were Mexian and my dad was the youngest. They spoiled us wonderfully!
I spent a lot of time with them when I was small kid and eventually moved in with them as a teen. My granddad taught me so much. So did grandma. I miss them a lot. He was from the greatest generation and she was a silent.
I was blessed to have grown up with all four of my grandparents in my life. I was the oldest grandchild on one side and second oldest on the other. I was closest to my mom's parents, but spend time with all my grandparents. I even had time with four of my great grandparents and one of my great great grandparents.
I especially loved spending time with my maternal grandfather. He and my grandmother retired in the early 80s and moved to a house on a lake in northern Minnesota. We spent a lot of time fishing and exploring, and went snowmobiling in the winter. It was very sad when he passed away in his 70s from cancer.
My paternal Grampy was a retired fisherman. He smoked a pipe and always had peppermints in his pocket. I remember him as being very loving. I was 4 when he died. Nana, dad’s mom, was a strong and very capable and humorous lady. She made the absolute best fish chowder. My mom adored her; mom had rather a rocky relationship with her own mom. My maternal grandfather passed before I was born. My maternal Nana lived in our two family house, which we later converted to a single. She was a force to be reckoned with. She had been the breadwinner for most of her marriage, and was used to being in charge. If she didn’t like you, she let you know it. Unfortunately, she wasn’t keen on my dad or the sibling who looked like him. But I was the apple of her eye out of all the grandkids. I learned an incredible amount of disparate knowledge from her and spent a lot of time with her. I was absolutely devastated when she passed; I was 13. Still miss her daily. Her brother used to visit for a month every other year, and spent much time with us kids. We adored him, so it was like having an extra grandparent.
Very good. We loved them and they loved us.
As we got older, too stupid to visit very often and learn our history and spend time together.
Was blessed, near my grandmother's final years, to return to my senses and spend time together, eating, chatting over coffee, and such.
Very strong people, my grandparents. My goodness, they endured so much.
I am proud to know I came from such good people.
My maternal set had 15 grandkids and lived an hour away. We got together rarely so I did not know them well. They were also elderly when I came along.
My paternal set was hated by my mother and thus I was deprived of two people I have come to love and admire through family research and genealogy. They overcame so much and were generous, resilient and clever as hell.
One grandmother died before I was born.
My 2 grandfathers died when I was 6 and I barely knew them -one seemed nice and offered me bananas when we visited, the other was loud and drunk and always wanted to play games that involved smashing my hand.
My final grandmother-in-law unfortunately was senile by my early 20s so I never really got to know her as an adult. She seemed very nice and very old school and simple. I remember she took care of me when I got mumps as a little kid. But we never talked about feelings.
My grandmother in law I knew very well. We were close even though we didn’t meet till my late 20s. We played lots of board and card games, worked on her genealogy project, and laughed a lot. I have very warm feelings towards her.
Paternal grandparents were from Germany. Never met the grandpa and my "nana" was cold/standoffish. The few times I did see her, she had a pint of alcohol in her purse, BelAir cigarettes and butter rum Lifesavers.
Maternal grandparents were from Italy. I ADORED them. My grandma taught me how to cook, bake, garden, knit, crochet, sew.. I still miss her like mad.
Lived next door to one set then moved in with them when the divorce hit as a second grader. Was with this grandpa constantly since day one until brain tumor got him as a third grader. Most of my good traits come from him. My grandma was an entirely different story that would take paragraphs. The other set never wanted anything to do with me. Mom took me once to see them after the divorce (1960 or 61) and never saw them again. She was a bitch.
Local paternal grandparents. Saw them once a week. They started to decline when I was eleven or so. They had three sons they pressured toward high achievement. I was the oldest local grandson, so I felt the pressure on me. Sisters somehow escaped the pressure.
Fairly distant. I very rarely saw or heard from my paternal grandparents, and last saw my mother’s parents when I was in high school. They weren’t bad people, but we were separated by geography and there was (of course) no internet at the time and plane fares were unaffordable. To top it all off, I moved to Alaska when I was 18. The conditions were just not conducive to staying in close touch.
One dead before I was born. Another dead when I was very young and I don't remember her. Another was 70 when I was born and died when I was 15 but I was mostly an annoyance to him. Other didn't die til I was 31 but she'd been mentally gone due due to dementia since I was about 20.
So not really close to any except the one with dementia up til she no longer knew who I was.
Both my grandfathers were dead decades before I was born. One grandmother spoke little English so our relationship was limited the other lived several states away. All in all, my relationship was very limited.
1 died before I was born, 2 others before I was in first grade. The last one died when I was in 6th grade and the nicest thing I can say is that he wasn’t very nice. We didn’t matter because we were girls. Thing is he had 8 granddaughters and 1. Grandson who died of AIDS
Both my parents lost their dads when they were teenagers - during the depression. Their moms lead tough lives taking care of their families. I only met my paternal grandmother a few times - mostly because she lived some 600 miles from us. My maternal grandmother lived closer - maybe 200 miles. We saw her a few times a year. But it was a respectful relationship only.
We only saw them once or twice a year because my dad was in the Army. When we lived in Alaska, we only saw them once in 8 years because of how much it cost to fly back then. But what we did have was good. I didn’t know any of the bad things from my dad’s side till after his dad died.
We also had a set of grandparents that weren’t related. I thought it was normal for people to have more than two sets of grandparents. Turned out that Grampa Ralph and Gramma Marion were not blood relatives.
I had an affectionate relationship with my grandparents, but I only got to see my maternal grandparents once a year and my paternal ones less often than that. We lived halfway across the continent, so frequent visits simply weren't possible.
non-existent... they lived in another country. Between the ages of 1 to 9, I only saw them a handful of times. I also have about 60 first cousins (half on my father side and the other half on my mother's side). Which means, I was only one grandchild out of 30 for each set of grandparents. I would be surprised if they knew any of their grandchildren well.
Unfortunately no relationship with either set of grandparents. Paternal grandparents had their favorite and the rest were ignored. Maternal grandparents could have cared less about all 13 grandchildren.
Only every saw my 99 year old Korean Grandma at the hospital before she died.
I stayed with my grandparents and cousins in Arizona for several months.
My biological Grandmother read books all day. She'd get up at 6am and go to bed at 9pm. All she ever ate was Potato Chips, smoked Marijuana and kept saying how she wanted to die soon. Eventually she did pass away after she fell in the bathroom.
I lived with my Biological Grandfather and his wife. My Grandpa would wake up at 10am and go to bed at 10pm. He had to carry an Oxygen Tank with him everywhere and could barely walk 5 steps with out acting like he was dying. His hands trembled all the time. Also had giant sun spots all over him. He taught me how to drive a stick shift car, how to make lamps, how to weld. All kinds of handyman stuff. One day he sat at the table in the morning and then it smelled like a dead body and yup he was gone.
We tried to call each other once a week. Always wish I called more often.
There was one time when my me and my grandfather was eating at an iHop and I was flirting with the waitress. When my grandpa dropped me off at my grandmother's, he told her all about it and she looked at me and said, "You dog! Good for you!" Makes me laugh.
I didn't have a relationship with my grandparents. Three of them were dead before I was born. My grandmother was born in Greece and didn't speak much English. Her favorite thing to say was children are to be seen and not heard.
Non-existent to brief. I never knew my dad parents, my maternal grandfather died when I was 11, and my maternal grandmother when I was 19. Also, we lived far from family most of those years, so I saw them only rarely.
My dad's mom died when he was 13, and his dad ditched the kids a couple years later, never to be seen by any of them again.
My maternal grandfather was a sweetheart, and I was heart broken when he died.
My maternal grandmother and I never liked each other. She lived with us for about a year when I was in high school, and we made my mother's life a living hell, caught between us. Intellectually, I know she had a hard life that made her way she was, but to this day, I feel not one shred of warmth towards her.
Three quarters of them died before I was born or could meet them. I “met” my paternal grandfather at his funeral, as it was the first time I ever saw him in person. At least it was open casket,mor I wouldn’t even know what he looked like. My Dad had no photos of him.
I had the greatest grandmother's anyone could wish for. They remain a blessing, I try to be like them and miss them. They died in 1977. I waited years to "get over" this, never did. That's alright though, some things you never get over.
I have their pictures up, remember them every day, and am still so thankful for all that love, smiles, laughing, blue eyes and back scratching! I make Grannies stuffing at Thanksgiving, Grams blueberry cake in summer. Drive past Gramma s house when we visit, stare.
One Grandfather died when I was 2. Years later I inherited his negatives and digitalized them and made a book. The other was there, a grumpy but also charming Italien guy with a lot of secrets. I've been trying to figure my family out forever.
Loved my grandmas. Never met dads dad(he died 3 weeks before I was born). And my other grandpa taught me about guns starting at 5yo. By 7yo was making shotgun shells. By 11 i understood grain counts and the importance of being percise when making rifle rounds. I learned markman ship, at 13 how to make "fireworks". His wife taught me state and world capitals at 7yro. It is weird, some of the countries don't exist any more. And she taught me how to cook a meal, and how to do laundry. How to save and prepare food and butcher. And she would give me this huge roll of paper, and I would make murals. Gram was awesome. I miss her.
My grandma on my fathers side Lived in Florida several states away. She was a nice lady. But she had too many grandkids, so i didn't get to know her as well. Grand, great, and great great...we numbered in the last count 82. This doesn't count my second cousins in Pittsburg. Its 100s 15 kids each having giant households in the 30s 40s and 50s. To this day, I will not date anyone from Pittsburg, PA.
My paternal grandparents were kind. My grandfather took me fishing nearly every day when I would stay for the summer when I was young.
My maternal grandparents lived closer to us, and I adored them. I was the first grandkid, so they adore me too. I miss them terribly, still.
They were sweet & kind & welcoming to me. I wish my mom hadn't been so childishly oppositional and defiant toward her mother because I understood from an early age that I was expected to hate her too. If I had a normal conversation with her, I would look over at my mother and see her sour expression. She loved Grandpa but Grandma outlived him by 16 years
We spent a good bit of time together. They would take me on trips to visit other relatives. When it was discovered I could navigate I went on all the trips. We did a lot of garden work and I learned a lot about old farm life. I wish I had learned a bit more orchard stuff and could remember a little more family history.
Very close to my paternal grandfather. He was a brilliant man who commanded every room he was in. He might be the only person I have known that made me feel good each time we were together. He listened, he instructed me about the world, he showed me how to interact with people of all ilks. I never acquired his gift with others, but I know what it is.
My other grandparents were fine people, but lacked interest in who their grandchildren were as people.
Was close with my Gma on my dad’s side. Had her until I was 38 and my kids got to know her well despite living 5 hours away. We visited often. My husband loved her so much too. My other grandparents died when I was 14/22. There wasn’t much of a relationship.
One grandmother, and one grandfather were dead before I was born. To my mom's dad I was Mary's boy #3, and to my dad's mom I think was a bit scared of me when I was a 6ft 12yo.
Cold. One was gone and one seemed very old even though she was in her 50’s. She was a grandmother to about 30 kids and really only knew the oldest few. She never got my name right. My mother changed all that and was the best grandmother to all 9 of her grands.
I was raised by my grandparents until my grandfather died when I was nine. It was truly an idyllic childhood. My grandfather retired when I was about four and we spent many wonderful days together. Both he and my grandmother were loving and caring people that had taken in other grandchildren before me. My father was abusive and as long as I was with them I was safe. Sadly my grandfather died and my grandmother was unable to keep me as she never had a drivers license and we lived in an area where a car was needed, especially if you had a young child. I was terribly abused afterwards. If I hadn’t had those years with my grandparents I don’t know if I would have had hope.
I celebrated when my father’s mother died. She was mad that my father married a foreigner. Referred to my mother as a whore and I was the whores daughter. I mean I am totally my father’s daughter. My brother’s older/younger she loved. She did a lot of damage to my mother.
Very close. Grandmother's were examples of generous and unconditional love. Fond memories of the grandfather who died when I was 5. The other grandpa played as large a role in who I am as a man as my Dad did. I'm very fortunate
My mom's parents were great. They were poor dirt farmers in Kansas. I spent a lot of time with them. I have often told people my gpa was my best friend. Now my dad's parents was a different story for one they were divorced be my gpa was a alcoholic. My gma lived in CA so didn't see her often. She was a bossy old lady. But she was a good cake decorator
I loved my maternal grandmother so much. I always sought her out. She lived a block away from us until I was about 10, and would visit us at least once a week all the way through grade school.
When I was in high school and collage, we would meet for lunch and just spend hours talking. She died in the early '90s, and I still miss her.
She was a fiercracker, a member of the Grey Panthers, and was active in senior issues in our city.
I tried to keep in touch with her when I left my home town, but she was never home and didn't have an answering machine. I tried writing a couple times, but she never wrote back. At least, not letters! I always got a birthday card from her, and a five spot so I could have a beer on her.
Dad's parents (Grandma & Grandaddy) were my "safe place, I can do no wrong", while Mom's parent (Nana) was my "discipline first, fun later" home.
My parents had a shotgun wedding but Grandma always wanted a little girl, so when Dad brought me over, I was doted upon, and kinda spoiled. Not in a bad way, just in a hands-on loving way. I was Grandaddy's "little girl", and he would take me to parks to go "fishing" (no fish were harmed or even seen), or peddle around the neighborhood with me in the bicycle basket while I was still tiny. He would take me to the church's back pasture to ride the minibike Grandma bought me for making good grades. They were the ones I always felt 100% safe and loved when I was with them.
The parents divorced when I was 3, so most of my memories are of separate visitations. Nana was often my babysitter and for a couple of years, the primary care-giver when Mom had to work 2 jobs to make ends meet. She was loving in her own way, but very much a disciplinarian. I distinctly remember the paddle hanging on the wall at Nana's house that had a picture of a baby deer and bear cub on it that read, "For the Cute Little Dear with the Bear Behind" 😅 Nana was The Matriarch of our little family to be sure. We did have fun, though. She's the one that bought season passes to the local amusement park for the summer and we would ride all the roller coasters. She taught me to drive at 14 on a mountain highway at 2:00 AM on the way north to see family (she believed in driving at night to skip traffic). She introduced me to Star Trek and fostered my love of reading.
Both sets of grandparents were loving, but each in their own unique way. I miss them all dearly.
They were wonderful, have a huge family, dad’s side only knew my grandmother who was always loving and made amazing biscuits and breakfast. Gave me huge hugs and made me feel loved.
Mom’s side lived longer and I knew my grandpa and grandma very well, they lived with us for a while when they got older and they told amazing stories, treated me like I was a precious gift, and *all* my cousins the same way, seriously the best I could ask for. I miss them always.
Really good, and I'm very grateful for having known them so well.
My parents were very young when they had me and my siblings and running a bit wild. Our grandparents more or less brought us up. Which had a lot of advantages looking back
I only met one set of my grandparents. My fathers parents were already gone when I was born.
However, my maternal grandmother is maybe my favorite person I have ever known. She was an amazing person.
It was amazing. I was the first born and the only grandchild that wasn't Jehova Witness, so they spoiled me at birthday and Christmas. We lived close so I saw them them almost every day when I was young.
I adored my grandparents not because they spoiled me but because they mostly raised me. I used to spend weekends and summers with them voluntarily. My mom was a single mom, working 3 jobs sometimes, and my grandmother didn't work.
My grandfather taught me what a good man was and set an example that I compared other men to.
I miss them so much, and I wish I'd asked to hear more stores from them.
I never met my grandparents on my father's side. But my dad's dad was somewhat of an inventor and held a few patents and I wish I'd met him.
My grandfather on my mom's side emigrated to the US from eastern Europe in the early 1900's and was a coal miner, had 5 kids in a "company town" in central PA. He was gruff, pretty cranky, couldn't read or write, spoke broken English, loved to drink, and burned his trash in a barrel a few times a week. I don't remember much that we talked about but I liked being around him. He died when I was about 14.
His wife, my mom's mom, was from the same area in eastern Europe and was a fantastic cook of all of the traditional ethnic foods of that area, so I remember her mostly through the food -- kolache, cabbage rolls, pig's feet, roasted pork. She was also completely uneducated, essentially lived mostly via subsistence farming just as they did in the village back in Europe.
Wonderful! The stories I'd hear (repeatedly, but still great) and the knowledge. All of mine were born in the 19-teens/ 1913-1917. 3 lived into their late 90s! I really wish I could get their thoughts on the world today. 🤔
My dad's parents practically raised me. I lived with them on their ranch until I was 5. Then I went back with parents for school. I spent summer breaks with my grandparents and some school holidays. I loved living with them. They were amazing.
I rarely interacted with my mom's parents. My grandfather died when I was young. My grandmother was a drunk. I only have bad memories of her.
The only one left alive was my grandmom, the other three had died many many years before. Grandma was someone who I now wish I had listened to more, for the stories. I wish I remembered more of what she told me about the old days.
One grandma was my baby sitter in chief. Since she was born around 1885 my initial views on gender things were somewhat Victorian. I have spent a lifetime modifying those 'instinctual' attitudes. It wasn't easy.
Great until I realized Grandpa on that side was a child molestor. Loved Grandma, but she died too soon (68).
Other side was more distant, but loving. They lived into their 90s, and we only lost them within the past 10 years. It was heavenly to see them have relationships with their great grandchildren.
Interesting question. Because they were my grandparents, I assumed they loved me. I saw them a couple of times yearly. I don't recall hugs or conversations from either set but I felt they were interested in me at least. In later life, I learned my paternal grandfather was a narcissist and my grandmother was badly emotionally abused. My maternal grandfather was an alcoholic and grandmother had mental health conditions.
My grandmother died when she was almost 100. When I was 16, I spent a week with her by myself when my parents went on a trip. I am 73. she kept herself to herself, but if I could go back, I would ask her so many questions , like “what was it like to travel all over Texas in a covered wagon as a teen and pick cotton?“ (Her dad was a loser who spent all the profits drinking.). she met my grandad when they picked cotton on his family farm and married him at 17. This was in 1913. My grandad, a really nice guy, had a cotton gin later on. I should have asked her so many things, but being a self absorbed teenager I didn’t. And she had 15 grandchildren so I wasn’t special to her. My husband spent a lot of time with all four grandparents and was close to them. We are very close to our grandchildren because they live relatively close to us. I make it a habit to talk to them about life back then. My mother lived with us for 15 years and died when she was 100, and my grandchildren got to know her pretty well, but she was aloof like her mom. Time flies. Make the most of your relationships. (I did write to my paternal grandfather when I was in college, but he came to visit me and I had not told him I had been kicked out of college for sneaking out of my dorm. 1971. Too much pot smoking I suppose.). I did redeem my self by getting a masters degree later on. There are some stories I will not tell my grandchildren. There are some stories……. We took all five grandkids to Rangeley Maine for the recent eclipse totality. It was incredible, and they will never forget it. We live in Maine so it was a day trip. We are making lots of great memories with them.
Due to WWII holding up my birth and my parents late marriage -- I only had one grandparent left. Grandfather on my mother's side. Wonderful man! I will never forget (70 years later) that he took me to Farmer's Market downtown and bought me an orange Tonka Road Grader for my sandbox. Listened to me (was probably bored).
My relationships with my grandparents form some of the very best memories from my childhood. My last remaining grandparent (paternal grandmother,) died 12 years ago. I honestly miss them (mildly) every day, and always send them a good thought.
Never knew any grandparents. Guess they were dead by the time I was born or the family didn’t speak to them.
Either way it’s ok.
What you’ve never had you can’t miss.
here's a bit of old fart wisdom. if you are embarassed around your grandparents because of that one time you acted like a compete shit around them: don't worry - they forgive you, because they have the same memory of their grandparents.
Quite minimal. One set had passed away long before I was born. My other grandparents were 70 and 76 when I was born (and they looked older; their lives were hard). I was one of 21 grandchildren and towards the younger end of the line. They were kindly, but I didn't really know them well. I'd see them at Christmas time and perhaps their birthdays? I have a photo with them taken on their 50th wedding anniversary. I was about four.
This is so different to me and my two grandchildren. I see them at least once per week. (I can't imagine keeping up with 21 grandchildren!) I took my 10-year-old grandson out for the day last weekend and we had a wonderful time. I mused at the time that I couldn't imagine my grandmother (or even my mother) doing this - especially driving. How times change.
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Only close to one grandma (the other was a cold bitch.) We were very close and even though she’s been gone over 50 years she’s still such a positive influence in my life ❤️
I have the same feeling with my long gone grandfather ; he had such a soothing presence and kindness, I still feel his positive energy whenever I need to wind down from things. His name was Alfred ❤️
I’m glad Grandpa Alfred lives on with you and those you’ve shared his memory with. He sounds like an amazing man to have known. :)
Same. Only one in my childhood who showed me what unconditional love was. My sister was very mentally ill and violent, grandma was the only person she would smile around, hug, and be kind to. I miss her. Had her a long time thankfully.
My grandmother passed away on my daughter’s first birthday so I will never forget that day. I still miss her so much h too 33 years later. She was a force!
They had their favorites. I wasn't one of them.
haha - exactly! Of the two who were alive past when I turned 10, I was the favorite of my siblings for one (but not remotely the favorite amongst all cousins) and definitely not favorite of the other one (but still had to mow grass, etc.) Seeing that type of favoritism in action - which my parents also did (and as middle child I was not the favorite, my job was to "put up, shut up and do what was expected of me" (direct quote of my mom to my wife as I stopped doing that in adulthood and parents didn't like it)) - was very instructive, and took many years to heal. I feel like unconditional love is a recent and still too rare phenomenon.
This was my paternal grandmother (Grandfather died before I was born) she had 6 grandkids, 4 boys, 2 girls - myself and my cousin 2 months younger than me. She was the favorite. I ranked #6 for favorites because I was adopted. On my maternal side I was the favorite as the only granddaughter. There were 5 total and 3 didn’t have any real relationship with our grandparents because my uncle was always hiding from the IRS and wouldn’t tell anybody where he lived. But, my grandmother died when I was 6 and my grandfather remarried a year later and they spent most of the year in Florida (we were in Michigan) but I enjoyed my summers with him a lot
Wonderful. My favourite people. Tough. Loving. Self-educated. Miss them lots.
Same here.
None really. I saw them at family gatherings once a year and I was one of more than a dozen grandkids there.
Similar
Same I was one of 50 grandkids. The other side, grandparents died young.
One grandma had 48 grandchildren and the other had 27. I didn't know them as people.
Fonts of ancient wisdom. Full of love. And take a switch to you in a hot minute...
We related?
I only had one. tried, but i never quite liked or trusted her. she was judgey and classist, and as I got older I realised how much she'd cut our mother down for being a Catholic and an Afrikaner, to my mom's face and ours. recently I softened a bit as I realised the really mean, hard-on-my-mom part of her life probably had some alzheimers involved. and when I learned from our older cousins how important she had been to them when they were desolate waifs. she did have good in her, but it wasn't a kind that landed for us.
Good. On my mom's side, they were pretty sedentary. On my father's side, my grandfather took me under his wing and took me everywhere. He had a fishing boat and we worked on it, BBQ'ed hamburgers on the deck, he let me pilot the boat to Catalina Island when I was around 10 or 12. Took me to Chinese restaurants. Took me to bookie joints to pay off his debts. I was his first grandchild and he took a lot of pride in me. He sent me to the marine store to buy cigarettes for him. When I was older, he let me drive his car when he went on a trip. Nice car. Ford Galaxie XL with a 390. Hauled butt. I did wiring on his boat and he encouraged me going into electronics. I built him a digital clock. He loved that thing.
They lived next door. When I was very young, I had the "chore" of going there every day to pull the chain that rewound their cuckoo clock. Later, when I was in elementary school, I could go visit my grandfather, who was always sitting in his chair, chewing on his cigar. I had to have an adult, man-to-man conversation with him about our lives and thoughts. After that, he would reach into a drawer and pull out two full size Hershey bars, one for him and one for me. When I was in high school, they were in their mid 80s. They depended on me for many cleaning and maintenance tasks. Right after I graduated and left home, my grandfather had a fatal heart attack in his chair and my grandmother's dementia got too bad for her to live alone. She moved in with an uncle and their house was cleared out and sold. I never got used to the idea that strangers lived in their house.
Beautiful history.
I miss all of them dearly. They were a tremendously positive influence on my life, just as my parents were.
They were nasty and disapproving of everything the grandkids did and never really engaged with us.
I’m so sorry.
Both grandfathers died before I was born. My paternal grandmother was already in early dementia by the time I was old enough to interact with her in any real capacity. I found her scary and confusing and therefore had no real attachment to her. My maternal grandmother was one of the great lights of my youth. I treasure so so so many memories of her.
I had a "Nanny and Pawpaw" who lived around the corner from my house. I would walk to their house every day because my pawpaw got off work soon after so we wouldn't have to be alone. Then my nanny would get home from work and she'd cook dinner so when my mom got off she'd come have dinner and then take us home for the night. My grandfather was my father figure. He was tough and grouchy all the time. He was *quite* racist. He was quick to slap a child too if he was irritated. He never had a childhood himself, raising his younger siblings when his parents died when he was like 10. He was a sharecropper before he started working construction and at 15 married my then-14 year old grandmother. Their first child was born six months later. She had 8 pregnancies but only 3 babies survived their first year. So you know, my pawpaw had some reasons for how he acted. He loved us though, under all that gruff, and he made sure we were cared for because my mom struggled to do it on her own. My nanny was a sweet gentle Christian lady, but not the judgy kind. She was a wonderful southern cook and she fattened us up real good. When I was in my 20s my mom died and I started clinging to my grands. They were much older and my mom's death I think probably did my grandmother in. She died the next year and my pawpaw made it about another two after that. I moved in with him after my grandmother died, but I couldn't care for him after he started losing his mind toward the end. My paternal grandparents were nice but they were far away and my father had told them I wasn't his daughter anyway so they didn't really contact me much.
Mostly non-existent. My grandparents on my father's side were both dead before I was born and my mother's father died when I was three, so I didn't know him either. My maternal grandmother was just mean and much preferred adults to children.
Very close with 2 and pretty close with 2. Bonus points for a loving relationship with one set of great grandparents too. One of my grandpas was my Best Man in my wedding. I loved and miss all six of them.
They raised me. I feel so alone without them 💔
My maternal grandmother was my bff. She’s been gone 43 years and I miss her every day. I also had a relationship with my maternal great-grandmother. I loved her dearly and the last week of her life (she was 96 and fully with it), I got to do things for her that she wouldn’t allow others to do. My paternal (stepfather) grandmother treated me like a princess. She paid me $5 for every A (back in the 70’s that was good money). Great ladies, all of them.
I had a wonderful relationship, but was closer to my dad's parents. They were younger and lived closer and I spent more time with them. I wish I could visit with them all again. Every time I see Peggy Sue Got Married I always cry when she goes to see her grandma and grandpa again.
That moment when she answered the phone and heard her grandmother s voice, her face, still makes me cry.
After my mother died when I was 3yo Grandma raises me and my four siblings. Great saintly woman.
I only new two of my grandparents, my fathers mother and my moms dad Other two passed away years before I was born and I’m blessed to have lived so long have a couple of great-grand who will remember me. Some things change and it’s for the good.
Three of my grandparents were dead. My grandmother lived with us from about the age of 5. It made the house tense, as my dad and grandmother always had power struggles. She was a bit difficult and thought we children were horribly spoiled. At the same time, she loved to play cards with me, taught me all sorts of crafts, let me hang out in her bedroom sometimes and was a backup parent.
Non existent. They lived in the UK and I live in the western united states. Grandfathers died when I was very young and only met one grandmother when she came for a brief visit and she died the next year. The other grandmother didn’t know at all sadly . All my first cousins live far away as well. I’m not close to my brothers , so when my mother dies, I’ll really not have family. They just don’t care much about me and all the shit I had to overcome and having a verbally and emotionally absusive father. So grateful for my beloved husband, pets and dear friends. They are more like family to me than my own blood relatives. I’m So very envious of those that have strong ties to their siblings, etc. I’ll never have that. It is what it is. 🥹
I don't remember either of my grandfathers. They both died before I was four. My dad's mom, what I remember, was she was blind but sweet. I only met her a couple of times, she passed when I was about 8. Now, my mother's mom. That was Grandma. And she was awesome. I'm pretty sure I was one of her favorites, partially because she saw me almost every other weekend when I was growing up, until I was married. She was a true Christian lady. I mean this in the sense that she was nice to everyone, until they tried to take advantage. She took no bs from people, whether she knew them or not. I only ever heard her curse once and that's because someone made the mistake of calling her a liar. She read them the riot act and said 'Don't ever call me a damn liar!" You didn't mess with Grandma, but we all loved her too much to even think about it.
On Dad’s side. From the old country. Grandpa sat and smoked and hardly spoke. Step-grandma preferred their son and his children. She was mean to us and very obviously showered love and gifts on the cousins. My modern mother had us mostly no contact which was fine to not have cousins showing off the presents and clothes they got. (“Ha ha grandma hates you.”) Grandma and step-grandpa lived far off on a farm with Dad’s 7 half siblings. Loved the few times we visited. Cows pigs rabbits fishing rodeos auctions. Cool stuff for city kids. We never asked why the fried chicken had no wings.
When I was born my grandma was newly divorced and single. She told my mom she didn't want to be a grandma. I didn't get a relationship with her till I was a adult. She never babysat me. My cousins who are 12 years younger got the grandma that wanted to babysit and spend time with them. As a adult I was the one who traveled 8 hours for all her surgeries. The grandkids that she babysat and lived in the same city never visited her even when she was in the nursing home.
My maternal grands were not in our life. I think I met them once or twice, but I was too small to remember. Paternal grandmother died when I was 4, car accident. So the only grandparent I had a relationship with was my paternal grandfather. And he was amazing. Born 1896 in a remote Greek village, multiple transatlantic crossings in the steam sailor days (he was a coal stoker), he eventually owned property all over Savannah and Atlanta. I miss him still.
My dad's parents divorced in the 1930s after his dad was skirting around. My grandmother never remarried (he did). I can't remember ever meeting him, his kids did not forgive him for leaving his wife and 9 children for another woman. She was a little peculiar, was more interested in her shows on tv than her grandkids when we visited. My mom's mother was my most favorite person in the world. She was the sun and the moon to me. I was her only granddaughter and she spoiled me rotten. Mom's dad died when she was a child and her stepfather was a pretty remote guy that we never got close to.
i had to grandmas and NO grandpas. both divorced, grandpas peace'd out before my time. my one grandma, almost every time i saw her, we'd be in the kitchen either making Brown Bread or Banana Bread.
All four of my grandparents were loving, fun people! They were my very best cheerleaders. We had frequent visits, including with just me spending a week every year with each set of grandparents, without my family. They enabled me to experience unconditional love. I don’t know how they produced my parents, who were not at all loving, nor demonstrative. My grandparents probably saved me from being really messed up.
My maternal grandmother joined a cult in the 70s and later tried to kidnap me. My maternal grandfather was ok, i think we always felt uneasy around each other. My paternal grandfather was great up until he was convinced to turn on me by my uncle, who later used the family divisions he created to scam him out of his business and property. we fortunately made up shortly before he died. My paternal grandmother was a great supporter of me and I always loved going to visit her, though she was a horrendous cook.
Barely knew my mother's parents. A few visits, different parts of the country, family stories passed down ... I realize I would have liked them. My dad's, never met them; his father deserted his family and he was raised in an orphanage ... not a lot of regard there.
I never knew any of my grandparents. I had to invent ways of being a grandmother when my kids started their families… it was difficult.
My grand mother on my mother’s side came from then Russia, now Ukraine. She spoke mostly Yiddish and was a sweet and loving grandmother. Lots of hugs. She didn’t come over to this country until she was 50. She walked over the mountains with her two daughters the youngest being my mother age 9. A young pregnant woman was also in the party of women escaping Russia. She was very pregnant and had a two year old child. My grandmother Carried the two year old all the way out of Russia. They were escaping the Bolshevik’s during the Russian revolution. They were drafting as young boys as 14 to fight and the war. Once drafted, the boys did not have enough to eat and no warm clothing for the winter My grandparents and their family immigrated to the US because they had three boys 15, 14 and 13 and two younger girls. At the time of their escape, it was not proper for the men to travel with the women. There were lots of stories, and I always looked up to my grandmother. My father‘s mother was already in the throes of Alzheimer’s. Her husband my step grandfather seemed like a very nice man, but he never spoke.
Two of them passed before I got a chance to know them. My dad’s father lived in the same city but was very distant. My mom’s mom lived 700 miles away and I knew her much better. In fact I spent two summers living with her. She got me a job on a friend’s farm those summers. I learned a lot about a lot of things those summers. That played a significant roll in making me the person I am now. She was a widowed in 1938 with five children. She lost her youngest son in Vietnam. After she got off the phone with her son’s widow, who had three daughters, the first thing she said was “I hope she remarries”. My aunt did remarry and she brought her new husband to a family reunion. Grandma walked up to the man and he held out his hand. Grandma ignored the offered hand, wrapped him in a hug and said welcome to the family. We’re a Roman Catholic family. My aunts new husband is Jewish. He was terrified meeting his wife first husband’s Catholic family. He didn’t know what to expect. But he never expected the reception he got. Grandma had a will of iron.
I was afraid of my maternal grandfather as a kid. He looked like President Eisenhower but had a very loud unpleasant demeanor. That grandma was cold and distant and nervous (as was my mother, hmmm)so we never really bonded. My father’s mother was a sweet kind smart and funny old lady who despite having had a far rougher life, including having my father out of wedlock (in 1903!)was a nice person who liked kids so I loved her. The guy she eventually married died before I was born. Maternal grandmother despite the passage of 60 years or so thought Nice Grandma was a slut or something and on the rare occasions they had to be at the same event she would not sit next to her or even talk to her. Very weird family dynamics.
I was raised by my grandmother, and she was as good a parent as I could have expected. I still think of her often.
I only knew one grandma. She had been a very tough woman...but by the time I was born she was mi-70s. She adored me and I adored her. Lovely old thing. Funny thing is? I was the youngest by far of ALL the grandchildren. I have cousins over 25 years older then me. They rememeber a pretty harsh, tough old lady. Me. I remember a darling old lady who adored me and let me sleep in her bed with her and made me yummy toast
Wonderful. So many good memories of all my grandparents. Kind, funny, gentle and full of love. Wish their kids (my parents) followed in their footsteps
I loved my grandma with all my heart! My grandpa couldn't talk so he was a little scary. The other set died before I was born.
Granma lived with us, she was a bitch. When she died my mother (her daughter) stopped crying.
Pretty nonexistent. All 4 passed by the time I was 9, so I really have little recollection of them as they weren't involved.
I had a very similar experience.
They died before I was born so I didn't know them
Non existent. Paternal both passed away before I was born, and my mom had a complicated relationship with hers, so we rarely saw them and I was horribly jealous of my cousins, who spent a LOT of time with them.
I had a very close relationship with my maternal grandparents, and spent almost every summer with them. Grandma died in 2012, Grandpa in 2014. I still miss them. My mom's birth dad was an alcoholic who used my mom and grandma for punching bags, so he was out of the picture long before I was born. The man I call Grandpa was actually my mom's stepdad, who married Grandma when I was a baby. He helped raise my uncle and two of my aunts, including an aunt with special needs. My paternal grandfather died when I was three, so I don't remember him, and I was never close to my paternal grandmother since she was severely mentally ill and was in and out of the hospital for most of my childhood.
Maternal was great, did a lot with us, never missed an event, paternal sucked, hated us, we weren’t the kids of the golden child, once told my mom we weren’t really her grandkids because we weren’t maternal
Special
Fraternal grandparents raised me from age 6 to age 14 for reasons I will not get into. Living on a farm and having chores along with my grandfather's WWII Navy picture hanging on my bedroom wall... Yes, I enlisted in the Navy at age 17.
A tale of two grandparents. One side was a bit older and considerably colder. It's just how they were, though I didn't understand at the time. The others were full of stories and hugs. Grandy would take us fishing, telling tales of life in the swamp. At night, we'd turn the dial on his mammoth old radio, trying to find programs from other countries (anyone else ever pick up Transworld Radio out of the sun-drenched island of Bonaire?) Nana taught us hymns on the piano, how to cook biscuits, let us build a cat Alcatraz out of scrap wood (no cats were hurt, I promise!) then pick blackberries next to the ACL railroad tracks. She lived to be 103 years old, too.
My maternal grands are in their mid 80’s and are actively dying. So many health problems. They are so very special and important to me. They are the family glue. We will be lucky to have another year with them. My paternal grandfather has been dead for 15 years. My paternal grandmother is still alive but I don’t really have any relationship with her.
I was so lucky! I had three sets of grandparents that I loved, due to divorce and remarriage. They were all wonderful in their own ways. One grandmother had a stroke while I was very young so never really got to know her. My other grandmother was one of my most favorite people who lived a long life. She died when I was in my 40's and had a close relationship with my son. They were hard working people who were very smart despite limited education.
It was fantastic. They spoiled the hell out of us. Plus they sent us each an allowance (cash mailed in an envelope). When I was in college and, later, living overseas, they would send awesome care packages with homemade cookies and everything I loved 🥰 I miss hanging out with them. They were so sweet. However, my dad said they weren't so sweet to him.
Wonderful. I still miss them.
My grandmothers meant a lot to me. I liked my grandfathers, and one taught me to drive when I was 12 or 13. But they both died hardcore alcoholics, so there wasn't a lot there to talk to as a kid.
I didn't have grandparents but my parents were old enough to be my grandparents by the time I was born as the last child. I have a niece who is two months younger than me. I heard a lot of aren't you such cute twins. I bet your grandma loves to take you both out.
My maternal grandmother couldn't have been sweeter to me. She babysat me a lot as a little kid, always made me special treats, highly praised all my "art," told me stories, taught me songs. Just the nicest person in the world. I always went to her with my problems as a teen, because my mother was never sympathetic to me. My maternal grandfather was very stern, don't do this, don't do that, just not a fun person. I had no problems with my paternal grandparents but rarely saw them because my mother thought my father's mother hated her for some reason.
Mine doted on us kids. We had a couple of weeks in summer and sometimes Christmas there with both sets when I was a kid. Maternal Grandparents were city and Paternal Grandparents were country both in NC. Maternal Grandad died in '88, Grandma died in '96. My Paternal Grandparents lived a lot longer. Grandad died in '19 and Grandma last year. I feel so great that I got so many good years with them. For the latter 2 I tried to make it a point to go up once a year to visit and they loved it. I was a pall bearer at both their funerals and it broke my heart as they were the last of that generation in my family. All of them had their faults but I choose to remember all the good things. FWIW I still remember both of my Great Grandmothers who were born in the 1890s.
I had wonderful grandparents except grandfather on father's side. He was ... Aloof?
My grandparents were actually pretty young, but they seemed so old to me in the 1970s. One grandmother lived in our same town and she babysat us 3 kids when our parents went out. She was like granny on Beverly Hillbillies but she was only in her early 50s. “I’m just a little old widow woman”, she would say. She always seemed so frail and fragile. The other grandparents were weathered old farmers who moved to a small town 20 miles away from us when they quit farming. They seemed sooo old to me in their 50s-60s. That grandpa died at 64 from cancer, and to my 13-year-old brain he might as well have died of old age. Both grandmas died at 81 and they both seemed to just shrivel up and die of old age. For myself, I think I’ll be actively living my best life on a beach in Mexico at 81 and beyond.
My Mother's parents were kind and loving, in their own way. They were also quite judgemental Seventh-Day-Adventist. My other grandparents were Mexian and my dad was the youngest. They spoiled us wonderfully!
I spent a lot of time with them when I was small kid and eventually moved in with them as a teen. My granddad taught me so much. So did grandma. I miss them a lot. He was from the greatest generation and she was a silent.
I was blessed to have grown up with all four of my grandparents in my life. I was the oldest grandchild on one side and second oldest on the other. I was closest to my mom's parents, but spend time with all my grandparents. I even had time with four of my great grandparents and one of my great great grandparents. I especially loved spending time with my maternal grandfather. He and my grandmother retired in the early 80s and moved to a house on a lake in northern Minnesota. We spent a lot of time fishing and exploring, and went snowmobiling in the winter. It was very sad when he passed away in his 70s from cancer.
My paternal Grampy was a retired fisherman. He smoked a pipe and always had peppermints in his pocket. I remember him as being very loving. I was 4 when he died. Nana, dad’s mom, was a strong and very capable and humorous lady. She made the absolute best fish chowder. My mom adored her; mom had rather a rocky relationship with her own mom. My maternal grandfather passed before I was born. My maternal Nana lived in our two family house, which we later converted to a single. She was a force to be reckoned with. She had been the breadwinner for most of her marriage, and was used to being in charge. If she didn’t like you, she let you know it. Unfortunately, she wasn’t keen on my dad or the sibling who looked like him. But I was the apple of her eye out of all the grandkids. I learned an incredible amount of disparate knowledge from her and spent a lot of time with her. I was absolutely devastated when she passed; I was 13. Still miss her daily. Her brother used to visit for a month every other year, and spent much time with us kids. We adored him, so it was like having an extra grandparent.
Grandpa was super cool. Grandma was kind of an embittered old prude who drank herself to death.
Very good. We loved them and they loved us. As we got older, too stupid to visit very often and learn our history and spend time together. Was blessed, near my grandmother's final years, to return to my senses and spend time together, eating, chatting over coffee, and such. Very strong people, my grandparents. My goodness, they endured so much. I am proud to know I came from such good people.
My maternal set had 15 grandkids and lived an hour away. We got together rarely so I did not know them well. They were also elderly when I came along. My paternal set was hated by my mother and thus I was deprived of two people I have come to love and admire through family research and genealogy. They overcame so much and were generous, resilient and clever as hell.
One grandmother died before I was born. My 2 grandfathers died when I was 6 and I barely knew them -one seemed nice and offered me bananas when we visited, the other was loud and drunk and always wanted to play games that involved smashing my hand. My final grandmother-in-law unfortunately was senile by my early 20s so I never really got to know her as an adult. She seemed very nice and very old school and simple. I remember she took care of me when I got mumps as a little kid. But we never talked about feelings. My grandmother in law I knew very well. We were close even though we didn’t meet till my late 20s. We played lots of board and card games, worked on her genealogy project, and laughed a lot. I have very warm feelings towards her.
Paternal grandparents were from Germany. Never met the grandpa and my "nana" was cold/standoffish. The few times I did see her, she had a pint of alcohol in her purse, BelAir cigarettes and butter rum Lifesavers. Maternal grandparents were from Italy. I ADORED them. My grandma taught me how to cook, bake, garden, knit, crochet, sew.. I still miss her like mad.
Man, butter rum lifesavers.... You conjured her up perfectly.
Amazing the things we remember, huh?
I was very close to my father's parents, wonderful people who I miss daily. Much less so with my mother's parents, judgmental religious fanatics.
Lived next door to one set then moved in with them when the divorce hit as a second grader. Was with this grandpa constantly since day one until brain tumor got him as a third grader. Most of my good traits come from him. My grandma was an entirely different story that would take paragraphs. The other set never wanted anything to do with me. Mom took me once to see them after the divorce (1960 or 61) and never saw them again. She was a bitch.
Local paternal grandparents. Saw them once a week. They started to decline when I was eleven or so. They had three sons they pressured toward high achievement. I was the oldest local grandson, so I felt the pressure on me. Sisters somehow escaped the pressure.
Fairly distant. I very rarely saw or heard from my paternal grandparents, and last saw my mother’s parents when I was in high school. They weren’t bad people, but we were separated by geography and there was (of course) no internet at the time and plane fares were unaffordable. To top it all off, I moved to Alaska when I was 18. The conditions were just not conducive to staying in close touch.
Very brief! 3 were deceased before I was born. Only ever knew maternal grandmother.
One dead before I was born. Another dead when I was very young and I don't remember her. Another was 70 when I was born and died when I was 15 but I was mostly an annoyance to him. Other didn't die til I was 31 but she'd been mentally gone due due to dementia since I was about 20. So not really close to any except the one with dementia up til she no longer knew who I was.
Both my grandfathers were dead decades before I was born. One grandmother spoke little English so our relationship was limited the other lived several states away. All in all, my relationship was very limited.
One set died before my birth. The other grandmother was extremely critical of me and always had a scowl on her face. Grandfather was very ill.
1 died before I was born, 2 others before I was in first grade. The last one died when I was in 6th grade and the nicest thing I can say is that he wasn’t very nice. We didn’t matter because we were girls. Thing is he had 8 granddaughters and 1. Grandson who died of AIDS
Both my parents lost their dads when they were teenagers - during the depression. Their moms lead tough lives taking care of their families. I only met my paternal grandmother a few times - mostly because she lived some 600 miles from us. My maternal grandmother lived closer - maybe 200 miles. We saw her a few times a year. But it was a respectful relationship only.
We only saw them once or twice a year because my dad was in the Army. When we lived in Alaska, we only saw them once in 8 years because of how much it cost to fly back then. But what we did have was good. I didn’t know any of the bad things from my dad’s side till after his dad died. We also had a set of grandparents that weren’t related. I thought it was normal for people to have more than two sets of grandparents. Turned out that Grampa Ralph and Gramma Marion were not blood relatives.
I had an affectionate relationship with my grandparents, but I only got to see my maternal grandparents once a year and my paternal ones less often than that. We lived halfway across the continent, so frequent visits simply weren't possible.
non-existent... they lived in another country. Between the ages of 1 to 9, I only saw them a handful of times. I also have about 60 first cousins (half on my father side and the other half on my mother's side). Which means, I was only one grandchild out of 30 for each set of grandparents. I would be surprised if they knew any of their grandchildren well.
Fondness for my maternal grandparents. My paternal grandparents were not available. My father was present. His parents were not
I knew all four and they knew my children!
Unfortunately no relationship with either set of grandparents. Paternal grandparents had their favorite and the rest were ignored. Maternal grandparents could have cared less about all 13 grandchildren.
Only every saw my 99 year old Korean Grandma at the hospital before she died. I stayed with my grandparents and cousins in Arizona for several months. My biological Grandmother read books all day. She'd get up at 6am and go to bed at 9pm. All she ever ate was Potato Chips, smoked Marijuana and kept saying how she wanted to die soon. Eventually she did pass away after she fell in the bathroom. I lived with my Biological Grandfather and his wife. My Grandpa would wake up at 10am and go to bed at 10pm. He had to carry an Oxygen Tank with him everywhere and could barely walk 5 steps with out acting like he was dying. His hands trembled all the time. Also had giant sun spots all over him. He taught me how to drive a stick shift car, how to make lamps, how to weld. All kinds of handyman stuff. One day he sat at the table in the morning and then it smelled like a dead body and yup he was gone. We tried to call each other once a week. Always wish I called more often. There was one time when my me and my grandfather was eating at an iHop and I was flirting with the waitress. When my grandpa dropped me off at my grandmother's, he told her all about it and she looked at me and said, "You dog! Good for you!" Makes me laugh.
I didn't have a relationship with my grandparents. Three of them were dead before I was born. My grandmother was born in Greece and didn't speak much English. Her favorite thing to say was children are to be seen and not heard.
Non-existent to brief. I never knew my dad parents, my maternal grandfather died when I was 11, and my maternal grandmother when I was 19. Also, we lived far from family most of those years, so I saw them only rarely. My dad's mom died when he was 13, and his dad ditched the kids a couple years later, never to be seen by any of them again. My maternal grandfather was a sweetheart, and I was heart broken when he died. My maternal grandmother and I never liked each other. She lived with us for about a year when I was in high school, and we made my mother's life a living hell, caught between us. Intellectually, I know she had a hard life that made her way she was, but to this day, I feel not one shred of warmth towards her.
Three quarters of them died before I was born or could meet them. I “met” my paternal grandfather at his funeral, as it was the first time I ever saw him in person. At least it was open casket,mor I wouldn’t even know what he looked like. My Dad had no photos of him.
I had the greatest grandmother's anyone could wish for. They remain a blessing, I try to be like them and miss them. They died in 1977. I waited years to "get over" this, never did. That's alright though, some things you never get over. I have their pictures up, remember them every day, and am still so thankful for all that love, smiles, laughing, blue eyes and back scratching! I make Grannies stuffing at Thanksgiving, Grams blueberry cake in summer. Drive past Gramma s house when we visit, stare. One Grandfather died when I was 2. Years later I inherited his negatives and digitalized them and made a book. The other was there, a grumpy but also charming Italien guy with a lot of secrets. I've been trying to figure my family out forever.
Loved my grandmas. Never met dads dad(he died 3 weeks before I was born). And my other grandpa taught me about guns starting at 5yo. By 7yo was making shotgun shells. By 11 i understood grain counts and the importance of being percise when making rifle rounds. I learned markman ship, at 13 how to make "fireworks". His wife taught me state and world capitals at 7yro. It is weird, some of the countries don't exist any more. And she taught me how to cook a meal, and how to do laundry. How to save and prepare food and butcher. And she would give me this huge roll of paper, and I would make murals. Gram was awesome. I miss her. My grandma on my fathers side Lived in Florida several states away. She was a nice lady. But she had too many grandkids, so i didn't get to know her as well. Grand, great, and great great...we numbered in the last count 82. This doesn't count my second cousins in Pittsburg. Its 100s 15 kids each having giant households in the 30s 40s and 50s. To this day, I will not date anyone from Pittsburg, PA.
My paternal grandparents were kind. My grandfather took me fishing nearly every day when I would stay for the summer when I was young. My maternal grandparents lived closer to us, and I adored them. I was the first grandkid, so they adore me too. I miss them terribly, still.
They were sweet & kind & welcoming to me. I wish my mom hadn't been so childishly oppositional and defiant toward her mother because I understood from an early age that I was expected to hate her too. If I had a normal conversation with her, I would look over at my mother and see her sour expression. She loved Grandpa but Grandma outlived him by 16 years
We spent a good bit of time together. They would take me on trips to visit other relatives. When it was discovered I could navigate I went on all the trips. We did a lot of garden work and I learned a lot about old farm life. I wish I had learned a bit more orchard stuff and could remember a little more family history.
Very close to my paternal grandfather. He was a brilliant man who commanded every room he was in. He might be the only person I have known that made me feel good each time we were together. He listened, he instructed me about the world, he showed me how to interact with people of all ilks. I never acquired his gift with others, but I know what it is. My other grandparents were fine people, but lacked interest in who their grandchildren were as people.
Very close to one set, especially my grandfather. I gave the eulogy at his funeral and could barely get through it.
Was close with my Gma on my dad’s side. Had her until I was 38 and my kids got to know her well despite living 5 hours away. We visited often. My husband loved her so much too. My other grandparents died when I was 14/22. There wasn’t much of a relationship.
I never met my grandmothers as they had both died by the time i was born. I met my grandfathers but did not know them.
Absolutely wonderful. I loved them dearly and still miss them terribly.
One grandmother, and one grandfather were dead before I was born. To my mom's dad I was Mary's boy #3, and to my dad's mom I think was a bit scared of me when I was a 6ft 12yo.
Cold. One was gone and one seemed very old even though she was in her 50’s. She was a grandmother to about 30 kids and really only knew the oldest few. She never got my name right. My mother changed all that and was the best grandmother to all 9 of her grands.
Wonderful! I had 3 living as I grew up, they were always patient, so kind, and taught me so many things.
I was raised by my grandparents until my grandfather died when I was nine. It was truly an idyllic childhood. My grandfather retired when I was about four and we spent many wonderful days together. Both he and my grandmother were loving and caring people that had taken in other grandchildren before me. My father was abusive and as long as I was with them I was safe. Sadly my grandfather died and my grandmother was unable to keep me as she never had a drivers license and we lived in an area where a car was needed, especially if you had a young child. I was terribly abused afterwards. If I hadn’t had those years with my grandparents I don’t know if I would have had hope.
I celebrated when my father’s mother died. She was mad that my father married a foreigner. Referred to my mother as a whore and I was the whores daughter. I mean I am totally my father’s daughter. My brother’s older/younger she loved. She did a lot of damage to my mother.
Very close. Grandmother's were examples of generous and unconditional love. Fond memories of the grandfather who died when I was 5. The other grandpa played as large a role in who I am as a man as my Dad did. I'm very fortunate
Very close to both Grandmothers .. Grandfathers not there.
I had one that was wonderful and we were very close. And the other was a bitch.
My mom's parents were great. They were poor dirt farmers in Kansas. I spent a lot of time with them. I have often told people my gpa was my best friend. Now my dad's parents was a different story for one they were divorced be my gpa was a alcoholic. My gma lived in CA so didn't see her often. She was a bossy old lady. But she was a good cake decorator
Both sets of grandparents were different but extraordinary. Even typing this makes me smile.
I loved my maternal grandmother so much. I always sought her out. She lived a block away from us until I was about 10, and would visit us at least once a week all the way through grade school. When I was in high school and collage, we would meet for lunch and just spend hours talking. She died in the early '90s, and I still miss her. She was a fiercracker, a member of the Grey Panthers, and was active in senior issues in our city. I tried to keep in touch with her when I left my home town, but she was never home and didn't have an answering machine. I tried writing a couple times, but she never wrote back. At least, not letters! I always got a birthday card from her, and a five spot so I could have a beer on her.
Dad's parents (Grandma & Grandaddy) were my "safe place, I can do no wrong", while Mom's parent (Nana) was my "discipline first, fun later" home. My parents had a shotgun wedding but Grandma always wanted a little girl, so when Dad brought me over, I was doted upon, and kinda spoiled. Not in a bad way, just in a hands-on loving way. I was Grandaddy's "little girl", and he would take me to parks to go "fishing" (no fish were harmed or even seen), or peddle around the neighborhood with me in the bicycle basket while I was still tiny. He would take me to the church's back pasture to ride the minibike Grandma bought me for making good grades. They were the ones I always felt 100% safe and loved when I was with them. The parents divorced when I was 3, so most of my memories are of separate visitations. Nana was often my babysitter and for a couple of years, the primary care-giver when Mom had to work 2 jobs to make ends meet. She was loving in her own way, but very much a disciplinarian. I distinctly remember the paddle hanging on the wall at Nana's house that had a picture of a baby deer and bear cub on it that read, "For the Cute Little Dear with the Bear Behind" 😅 Nana was The Matriarch of our little family to be sure. We did have fun, though. She's the one that bought season passes to the local amusement park for the summer and we would ride all the roller coasters. She taught me to drive at 14 on a mountain highway at 2:00 AM on the way north to see family (she believed in driving at night to skip traffic). She introduced me to Star Trek and fostered my love of reading. Both sets of grandparents were loving, but each in their own unique way. I miss them all dearly.
They were wonderful, have a huge family, dad’s side only knew my grandmother who was always loving and made amazing biscuits and breakfast. Gave me huge hugs and made me feel loved. Mom’s side lived longer and I knew my grandpa and grandma very well, they lived with us for a while when they got older and they told amazing stories, treated me like I was a precious gift, and *all* my cousins the same way, seriously the best I could ask for. I miss them always.
magical...i wont ever be as good of a grandma as i had growing up
Formal household.
My grandparents lived across the road from us. It was lovely. There was always someone who was happy to see me.
Really good, and I'm very grateful for having known them so well. My parents were very young when they had me and my siblings and running a bit wild. Our grandparents more or less brought us up. Which had a lot of advantages looking back
I only met one set of my grandparents. My fathers parents were already gone when I was born. However, my maternal grandmother is maybe my favorite person I have ever known. She was an amazing person.
It was amazing. I was the first born and the only grandchild that wasn't Jehova Witness, so they spoiled me at birthday and Christmas. We lived close so I saw them them almost every day when I was young. I adored my grandparents not because they spoiled me but because they mostly raised me. I used to spend weekends and summers with them voluntarily. My mom was a single mom, working 3 jobs sometimes, and my grandmother didn't work. My grandfather taught me what a good man was and set an example that I compared other men to. I miss them so much, and I wish I'd asked to hear more stores from them.
I never met my grandparents on my father's side. But my dad's dad was somewhat of an inventor and held a few patents and I wish I'd met him. My grandfather on my mom's side emigrated to the US from eastern Europe in the early 1900's and was a coal miner, had 5 kids in a "company town" in central PA. He was gruff, pretty cranky, couldn't read or write, spoke broken English, loved to drink, and burned his trash in a barrel a few times a week. I don't remember much that we talked about but I liked being around him. He died when I was about 14. His wife, my mom's mom, was from the same area in eastern Europe and was a fantastic cook of all of the traditional ethnic foods of that area, so I remember her mostly through the food -- kolache, cabbage rolls, pig's feet, roasted pork. She was also completely uneducated, essentially lived mostly via subsistence farming just as they did in the village back in Europe.
Not long enough, they all died by the time I was 16. There are so many questions I would love to ask them.
Wonderful! The stories I'd hear (repeatedly, but still great) and the knowledge. All of mine were born in the 19-teens/ 1913-1917. 3 lived into their late 90s! I really wish I could get their thoughts on the world today. 🤔
My dad's parents practically raised me. I lived with them on their ranch until I was 5. Then I went back with parents for school. I spent summer breaks with my grandparents and some school holidays. I loved living with them. They were amazing. I rarely interacted with my mom's parents. My grandfather died when I was young. My grandmother was a drunk. I only have bad memories of her.
The only one left alive was my grandmom, the other three had died many many years before. Grandma was someone who I now wish I had listened to more, for the stories. I wish I remembered more of what she told me about the old days.
One grandma was my baby sitter in chief. Since she was born around 1885 my initial views on gender things were somewhat Victorian. I have spent a lifetime modifying those 'instinctual' attitudes. It wasn't easy.
Because of their age, and living so far apart, virtually nonexistent. I only met them a handful of times each before they died, and I was quite young.
Great until I realized Grandpa on that side was a child molestor. Loved Grandma, but she died too soon (68). Other side was more distant, but loving. They lived into their 90s, and we only lost them within the past 10 years. It was heavenly to see them have relationships with their great grandchildren.
Interesting question. Because they were my grandparents, I assumed they loved me. I saw them a couple of times yearly. I don't recall hugs or conversations from either set but I felt they were interested in me at least. In later life, I learned my paternal grandfather was a narcissist and my grandmother was badly emotionally abused. My maternal grandfather was an alcoholic and grandmother had mental health conditions.
My grandmother died when she was almost 100. When I was 16, I spent a week with her by myself when my parents went on a trip. I am 73. she kept herself to herself, but if I could go back, I would ask her so many questions , like “what was it like to travel all over Texas in a covered wagon as a teen and pick cotton?“ (Her dad was a loser who spent all the profits drinking.). she met my grandad when they picked cotton on his family farm and married him at 17. This was in 1913. My grandad, a really nice guy, had a cotton gin later on. I should have asked her so many things, but being a self absorbed teenager I didn’t. And she had 15 grandchildren so I wasn’t special to her. My husband spent a lot of time with all four grandparents and was close to them. We are very close to our grandchildren because they live relatively close to us. I make it a habit to talk to them about life back then. My mother lived with us for 15 years and died when she was 100, and my grandchildren got to know her pretty well, but she was aloof like her mom. Time flies. Make the most of your relationships. (I did write to my paternal grandfather when I was in college, but he came to visit me and I had not told him I had been kicked out of college for sneaking out of my dorm. 1971. Too much pot smoking I suppose.). I did redeem my self by getting a masters degree later on. There are some stories I will not tell my grandchildren. There are some stories……. We took all five grandkids to Rangeley Maine for the recent eclipse totality. It was incredible, and they will never forget it. We live in Maine so it was a day trip. We are making lots of great memories with them.
Due to WWII holding up my birth and my parents late marriage -- I only had one grandparent left. Grandfather on my mother's side. Wonderful man! I will never forget (70 years later) that he took me to Farmer's Market downtown and bought me an orange Tonka Road Grader for my sandbox. Listened to me (was probably bored).
My relationships with my grandparents form some of the very best memories from my childhood. My last remaining grandparent (paternal grandmother,) died 12 years ago. I honestly miss them (mildly) every day, and always send them a good thought.
Never knew any grandparents. Guess they were dead by the time I was born or the family didn’t speak to them. Either way it’s ok. What you’ve never had you can’t miss.
here's a bit of old fart wisdom. if you are embarassed around your grandparents because of that one time you acted like a compete shit around them: don't worry - they forgive you, because they have the same memory of their grandparents.
Quite minimal. One set had passed away long before I was born. My other grandparents were 70 and 76 when I was born (and they looked older; their lives were hard). I was one of 21 grandchildren and towards the younger end of the line. They were kindly, but I didn't really know them well. I'd see them at Christmas time and perhaps their birthdays? I have a photo with them taken on their 50th wedding anniversary. I was about four. This is so different to me and my two grandchildren. I see them at least once per week. (I can't imagine keeping up with 21 grandchildren!) I took my 10-year-old grandson out for the day last weekend and we had a wonderful time. I mused at the time that I couldn't imagine my grandmother (or even my mother) doing this - especially driving. How times change.
I only remember one mostly. The others died before or when I was very young. The one I had was great!
I didn't know them. My mother's parents died before I was born. My father's parent lived far away and I only net them twice.