My Grandmother Lesson Of Parenting

My grandmother’s name was Maria, and she lived a very simple and happy life. I have never meet anyone else in my life who is that positive and loving. My two sisters and I always looked for her if we needed to eat, talk or play. She was always in the vegetable garden, feeding the chickens or cooking something healthy and delicious. Her parenting style was very unique.

Her method of keeping us disciplined was: she never judged and gave unconditional love. My grandmother never said “NO” to me or my sisters, but yet she never spoiled us. She had the magic to find the great balance in how to teach us good behavior. If I had a chance to get in trouble, the first thing in my head was her. What she would say if I did that? I just couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her in any way! I would be embarrassed of myself.

She knew so much about life and passed all of her knowledge on us through the stories she would tell us. Every night when I was little, she would sit next to the fireplace or in the summer she will make a fire pit outside and she will gather my sisters and I around it and tell us stories with moral lessons. At the end of her amazing stories she will never ask us what we think or what to discuss it. She would just let us process it, sleep on it and think on our own about what we just learned. Then we will hear these stories over and over again and every time she will add more to it. Although we already knew the story, it was the bonding between us and the time spend with her that made it even more amazing.

She made everything so special, with no money involved.

We lived in a small village with our parents, and my grandparents lived in our guest house. My parents were at work all day and they were never there (thats why none of my sisters or I are close to them now). It’s kind of sad, but they missed the time to build the relationship with us. Parents and children create a life built upon everyday memories, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes I wished It was different, but that’s the reality.

Unlike my parents, my grandma was always there for us. It could be 3am, and I could go and wake her up ( without her yelling and complaining) and tell her I am hungry. She will get up, get dressed, and we would go in the kitchen and she will say, "what would you like to eat honey?" I can say anything I would like and I know she will make it for me ( from scratch).

Back then there wasn’t an electric stove, so my grandma had to put wood in the stove and make a fire before she can cook anything. She will make me whatever I want, serve it to me and she will sit on the other side of the table, watch me eat with her face full of joy.

We also didn’t have an indoor bathroom, so we had to go in an outdoor toilet. It will be a winter night, below zero and my grandma will get up, put a coat on and will stand outside in front of the bathroom, waiting for me.

If I had to ask my own mother to go with me, she would yell at me and refuse to go outside.

My grandma dedicated her life to us and the home we all lived in. She gave me and my sisters that gift of motherly skill you can’t learn anywhere, other than from personal example and life experience.

It’s been 17 years since she passed, but there wasn’t a day I would not think of her or something wouldn't remind me of her. I love to cook because of her and her delicious meals she made from our vegetable garden every single day. And now every time I make some of her recipes, I always think of her.

Her presence in my life and childhood made her immortal.

If parents are present in their children’s lives, they will always be present, even after they are gone from this world. In order to be missed by someone, you need to be present first! If you as a parent achieve this, you did it! You are success as a parent!

#grandparents #parentlesson