Here’s to Many More GRANDPARENT’S DAYS
By Alison Turner
Growing up, I was lucky enough to have what seemed like two sets of parents. My actual parents, who I lived with and who provided for me, and my grandparents, who I didn’t get to see as frequently but still loved just as much.
As a child, my weekends often consisted of visits to “Grandma’s House,” (sorry Grandpa), where my sisters, cousins, and I would be spoiled rotten with snacks, movies, toys, and excitement all around. Over time, even as I outgrew playtime and began to like “grown up” things, one thing always seemed to remain the same: my grandparents’ house was a place of endless safety and comfort.
In February of 2017, I was given an opportunity that turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I was going to be moving in with my grandparents. Suddenly, the weekend experiences that I had always adored would be turning into everyday occurrences.
At first, I feared that living with my grandparents would lead me to view them differently. Instead of only spending time with them every so often, I would now be seeing them constantly. Would I get tired of them? Would we have arguments? Would I want to move back home?
Of course, I had nothing to be afraid of. Grandma’s House was what it always had been – a sanctuary filled with joy.
My grandparents, as it turns out, are fountains of knowledge, hilarity, and love. Living in their home has taught me many things. Things like how to make the perfect cookie, or deposit a check at the bank, or way too many jokes that are significantly less funny coming from me than from my comedic genius of a grandpa. I have learned how to be a woman of kindness and grace from my grandma, and my grandpa has instilled in me independence and too many skills to count.
Grandparents Day is coming up on September 13th, and with it comes the reminder of all the special ways my grandparents have impacted my life. I know that without their wisdom and unwavering care I would not be as confident in myself and my future as I am today. These past three years living in their home have been an ongoing adventure that I wouldn’t trade for the world.
Reach out to your grandparents this month and thank them for all they do for you or look back on your memories and remember fondly the many smiles they’ve brought to your face. I know that I will be doing both!
Thank you always, Grandma and Poppy. Here’s to many more Grandparents Days in the future!
