Community Chat

[Greeneyedlady21]

My maternal Grandmother was a very kind and loving person, just like my Mom was. She worked outside the home when most women didn't. Sadly she died when I was only 12, most things that I know about her are from the stories my Mom told me about her. I do have some memories of when she lived with us before she died. I loved to watch TV with her and just sit and talk with her.

Sadly my paternal Grandmother was not a nice person.

[mac116]

My husband and I come from a long line of working mothers and working grandmothers, who always kept up on the latest news and styles, much like Kachina's.  We are currently in our mid 70s...so that goes a long way back!

[Sooner]

One died before I was born, the other was mean. From several I know personally now they seem to take over their kids and grandkids lives and are helicopter grandparents. 

[Oznell]

I agree with @Desert Lily's comment that it's who we are inside that determines so much of our life's path.

Parenthetically, it's a quirk of mine that I've always sort of cringed when people are defined by roles, such as grandparent.  Hate news stories that begin--  "Grandma wins trout fishing contest",   or "Grandpa Foils Cat Burglar".   It seems so limiting, and perhaps condescending, although not in all cases...

My mother's mother died when my mother was a very young woman, on the verge of marrying my father.  She had been very sick for quite awhile, but had been an expert seamstress and tailor in their northern Ontario resort town on Georgian Bay, where her husband was a merchant.  In her pictures, she was delicate, doe eyed, and looked very much like her daughter.  

I think she must have been slightly dizzy like my Mother was.  My one piece of evidence is, my Mum once claimed that the character of "Margaret Drysdale" (the banker Mr. Drysdale's wife) on "The Beverly Hillbillies" reminded her strongly of her mother!   She didn't mean the snobbery, just the sort of amusingly "scattered" quality and mannerisms she had, I think.  She adored her.

My Dad's mother I did know.  As a young Englishwoman, she married a Welsh/English coal miner and stone mason, and they moved to Canada for a better life.  Unfortunately, my grandfather died at age 28 when my Dad was 5.  My grandmother was left with four small children to raise, and had few marketable skills.  They were desperately poor for a long time, while she put food on the table through scrubbing and cleaning for others, I believe.  She later remarried.  To my child's eye, she exuded both a quiet strength, and always a certain sadness.  She did a fantastic job raising my father, who was devoted to her.

[GenXmuse]

And I find that rather sad, actually. I would like to be half as strong as my grandmother were. 

[qualitygal]

I would love to read all these stories in a book.

In fairness, I should add, my grandfather was a fireman. When he started, the firetruck was drawn by horses.  Wish there had been a picture of  that. He worked all through his life, even on the last day of his life.  I can't remember him setting down.  Not hyper, just busy.    

I love to read all these responses.  Some are such great remembrances.

[Imaoldhippie]

My maternal grandmother left and divorced my grandfather and my mother at a very young age.  She remarried sometime later and new husband and grandma bought a bar and grille in a very small town.  Grandma went to the bar at 6 am and cooked breakfasts for all the local farmers.   She worked at the bar until 4 pm or so when my step-grandpa would take over and work till closing.

My paternal grandmother was a farmers wife and had 5 kids.  Then my grandpa lost the farm in a poker game.   Grandma left and moved into town and was a waitress at a Grayhoud Bus Depot for many years.  They eventually divorced.

[Skyegirl21]

I loved reading all these amazing tributes to grandmothers! WOW! How admirable! 
My 2 Omas, ( we called them Omi, grandmother in German), were both refugees from Nazi Germany, who emigrated to different countries in South America, with nothing, (Columbia and Bolivia) , to escape Nazi murder camps. Both families, Mom and Dad eventually came to the states when the the US finally allowed immigration again, and my parents met here.
Both Omis were smart, and worked but had limited education, and certainly had very tough lives having to start over twice, learning new languages- I am lucky to have been born thanks to their resourcefulness, luck and bravery- For some reason, I've always had a strong work ethic and need for accomplishment. I rarely sit still and hope I am making them proud! ❣️❣️

[haddon9]

All four of my grandparents came to the US back in the early 1900s from eastern Europe.  My maternal grandparents both came from Lithuania from the same town.  However they met in NYC where they married and raised a family.  I don't really remember that grandmother very well since she passed when I was only six years old.

My paternal grandparents also arrived in this country in NYC at Ellis Island.  My grandfather came from Austria and grandmother came from Poland.  They also met and married in NYC.  That grandmother lived until I was in my early twenties. 

She was the sweetest most loving grandmother one could have.  She didn't have much money but would always bring me and my brother a small gift when she would come see us and had endless patience.  I remember her always as being happy and playing games with us.

[meallen616]

Everyone,

I so enjoyed reading your posts!

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