Are/Were You Close to Your Grandparents?

[4nana]

Thx MIGrandma for starting such a touching thread, specially around holidays, where so many memories are stirred.

Very close to my maternal grandparents. They lived closed, so saw them every week-end and summers I'd spend a couple wks with them...they were so fun and laid back. Grandma H. was known for her infamous yummy potato soup. I was early 20'ies when they both passed within 5 mos of each other and was happy to help them both to the very end, incl spending nights at hospital in their last days. When Gma passed I inherited her pearls, which I treasure. Definitely lots of fun loving memories and outings I hold dear to my heart.

Was close to paternal grandparents too, but didn't see them as often. They were older and seemed more uptight. Grandma C was know for her infamous biscuits, quilting, and canning. To this day I use her delicious canning recipie for pickled pears. I miss them all and am greatful for the loving memories.

My DH only had one grandparent living when he was born and sadly never experienced that loving bond. I feel that grandparents are so important in a child's life. Thankfully, we are blessed lots of sweet grands (5-25yo) and are very involved, as grandchilren are truly a love like no other.

 

[codimouse]

I was very close to my maternal grandparents. We grew up in a small town and lived 5 minutes away. I would walk to their house for lunch and after school until I had to get home.
My grandpa would always be the 1st to help in any situation. It was just a relaxed living atmosphere. So many 1sts happened with them
They both passed in 2001. I was heartbroken and so sad.
Every time we go to Disney I think about the time we brought them to MK in 1986. I was 15. They were in their late 70's. they never been out of our small town so it was exciting seeing them at the parks having fun.
The only rides they did were Skyway, Carousel, Dumbo and Submarine voyage. I remember grandma wanted to stay on the Carousel
.
Such great memories.

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MrsDuck]

I was close to my maternal grandmother and a set of really close family friends I considered grandparents.

My paternal grandparents lived far away and we rarely saw them. My paternal grandfather just passed away and I'm not very close with his wife. My maternal grandfather was my favorite-- he died when I was 8, however.

My "adopted" set of grandparents "disowned" me this year when I told them I was getting married at Disney World instead of the Catholic Church-- haven't spoken to me since I told them in February.

AND, lastly, my maternal grandma, whom I'm closest to, is a 93yo, blind, abusive, drug addict who tells us continually she wants to die.

So, yeah. I don't have the most ideal grandparent situation.

 

[Bilberry]

I know/knew my mom's parents very well. I would often visit their home in Oregon during the summer months. Later they moved out and lived around the corner from my place. I'm not sure if my mom was thrilled about the move! She likes her parents but being around them all the time, caused her and dad to look into a winter vacation home in Florida. Grandma is still around, sort of. Her mind isn't what it used to be, but I stop by and visit her a few times a week to say hello.

Never really knew my father's parents all that much. I visited them a few times over the years during large family gatherings. They were good people, lived in a small town far away from other city centers and more or less kept to themselves. Grandma was an energetic lady, that was fun to be around. Granddad had diabetes, and that seemed to have played with his mind to an extent.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I grew up in the same house as my grandparents (and my mother, of course). So they were like the only set of full "parents" that I had. I consider myself VERY lucky to have had them so close. We lost Grandpa on Christmas Eve 1998 and Gram joined him in July 2007 (6 days before my birthday). I still feel their loss deeply.

My father's parents...I really didn't know them at all. My parents divorced when I was 2 years old and my father and I stopped speaking when I was 14. His mother had said to me, "I got your mother out of my son's life and I'm going to get rid of you, too." She got what she wanted. Now they're all gone (including my father) and I honestly have zero feeling about them.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

My paternal grandfather died when my dad was only 17, so I never knw him (and neither did my mother, since my parents met intheir early 20s). My paternal grandmother lived with us formthe time I was 3 until she passed (when I was 12) and I was very close with her.

I rarely saw my maternal grandparents, but we lived on opposite ends of the US. My maternal grandfather died when I was 5, and my grandma died just last March. It was pretty clear to me growing up that my cousins, who lived across the street from grandma, were the favored ones and my sis and I were the "other" grandchildren. Despite that, I still was gracious and sent her cards and gifts and visited her, right up until the end. Of course, when my cousins both turned out to be sort-of losers, grandma did kind of warm more to me, particularly after she heard I was having a baby.

 

[Arielle22]

My maternal grandmother (Nana) lived with us. My grandfather a few months before my parents wedding and there were no other children so Nana went with Mom.

My paternal grandparents (Nana and Grandpa) lived up the street from us and loved seeing us come over. My 7 siblings and I reminisce about the toys they had for us and they noise we made playing them.

I was named for my dad's mom so she always had a big smile when I walked in. Mom told us when we were older that Nana didn't like her and liked her other daughter in law more but she never showed that around us.

Unfortunately my daughters aren't as lucky as I was with grandparents. My dad died when I was 17 and mom when I was 30 (she lived long enough to see my two daughters though).

My father in law died before I met my husband and my mother in law used to love seeing my girls. However she had a massive stroke in 2000 and recovered enough to enjoy a couple of years of living on her own and limited traveling. Her health went downhill and now she is in a nursing home and doesn't seem to care when we visit.

Luckily my siblings and I are a close family. My girls have plenty of older people who love and care for them. My sister does not have children and her in laws used to say they were my daughters adopted grandparents.

 

[willowsnn3]

All my grandparents had passed away before I knew them except my maternal grandmother who I didn't meet until I was around 12yrs old. She and my mother had been estranged for a long, long time before they made amends. She lived in another state tho so I really only saw her on a few occasions before she passed away.
For my kids, their paternal grands had passed away before they were born but they (my kids) had a great relationship with Granny & PaPa (my parents). My grandkids didn't get to meet PaPa but they dearly loved Granny-Granny (my mom).
I live with my two daughters & they have 2 kids each so that means I live with 4 of my grands & we all get along great (big house-lots of space). I have 4 other grandsons that don't live with me but see them regularly.

 

[tazdev3225]

I was thinking of my Gram just today.

In answer to the question - yes I was close to my grandparents. Both my grandfathers died by the time I was 9 but I have fond memories of them. My maternal grandfather was a baker and he would shoot whipped cream in my mouth or pick me up by my feet to dip strawberries in the sugar bin. My paternal grandfather would bribe me with giant chocolate bars and call me his "princess".

My maternal grandmother liked boys better than girls but she was a pip and I understood her. She stayed in bed til 3 PM and was up late every night. She loved Bingo and the corner bar. When she got older she had some mini strokes that made her say some of the most outrageous things. I learned manners and respect from her. She still had the bakery after my grandfather died and I could have anything I wanted as long as I said please and thank you. I lost her 15 years ago.

My paternal grandmother was a wonderful person. She was one of the smartest people I ever knew and only had a 4th grade education. She took me to the shore and got me anything I ever wanted. Years later I realized how much of a finacial hardship that was for her but she never said no. I never asked for much though, being with her was enough. Our birthdays were 2 days apart and as she got older we would go to get ice cream to celebrate. I still remember the cake she made me for my 3rd birthday. Vanilla with cherry icing and cherries all over it because I liked cherries. I have always said that if I am 1/10th the grandmother that she was to me I will have upheld her legacy. I consider myself fortunate to have had her in my life until I was 45.

My kids were close to my parents and their dad's mom. My FIL died when my DH was only 6.

But I am really lucky to be very close to all 6 of my grandkids. There is nothing better than walking in the house and having them run up to me and give me a hug and the biggest smiles ever telling me how much they missed me. I have even been to Disney with all but one of them. His time will come I'm waiting for his parents to get the money together. And my grandkids see my parents all of the time also. We have our dysfunctional moments but we are still close thankfully.

 

[ReneeA]

I love my grandparents so much. My parents were only 16 & 18 when I was born, and both sets of grandparents were also very young, still raising their own kids at that time. We moved into a tiny house a block from my paternal grandparents and I stayed there a lot while my mom finished high school. My grandmother is a cynical, foul mouthed jokester. I know that sounds terrible, but she's possibly the funniest person I know. Grandpa is sweet, kind, and easy going.

My maternal grandparents owned a house on the lake, and I spent everyday all summer with them. We swam, boated, and had bon fires all the time. My parents struggled financially for a few years when I was little, and I remember my grandparents buying my snowsuit and boots along with school clothes for awhile. My grandfather was killed on the job when I was 11. He was only 48 and it was the most horrible thing. My grandma struggled for a few years after he was gone, she hated living alone, so I spent most nights there for about 18 months after he died.

I was also close to many of my great grandparents (probably the only benefit to many generations having babies in their teens ) At 39, I still have a great grandmother alive along with all but one grandparent.

 

[Robbi]

My paternal grandparents were like second parents to me. I adored them and miss them. Even though they're gone, I still tell them I love them everyday.
My maternal grandfather died before I was born and my maternal grandmother was not an easy or warm person.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yes.

I was very lucky and I grew up with all four grands less than a mile from my house. I was very close to all four of them and it was very sad and heartbreaking when then died off one by one.

My biggest joy is that my husband was able to meet and know my Grandpa John. He was the longest-surviving grand and he was a kick in the pants. He taught love, plain and simple. Every time he did something nice for someone and they would politely say he didn't have to, he'd say, "I don't have to breathe, either, but I like to."

My grandparents each had their own wonderful qualities that I hope have stuck on me.

And thanks for making me cry!

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Such wonderful stories everyone is sharing! I am actually tearing up as I read through them. Thank you for starting this thread!

I only had 1 grandparent alive - it was my father's mother. I didn't know her well and never really remembered carrying on any significant conversation with her. That makes me sad now. She died when I was 22.

My kids have 3 of their 4 grandparents. They see their paternal grandparents all the time and they have spent a lot of time up north at our cabin with them. They love them a ton and it will be hard when they pass away.

When my mother was alive and we lived closer to my folks my kids saw my mom and dad all the time. My mom watched my kids for me for a couple hours a day, a few times a week while I worked and they called her grandma with the white hair (we had/have grandma with white hair and grandma on the farm). My mom was wonderful with my kids and when she passed away 8 years ago my oldest son who was 10 put a letter to her in her coffin and he just cried. My daughter who was 4 at the time only remembers grandma licking her ice cream cone in Joe's Crab Shack one night for dinner (my mom wore dentures and didn't have them on that day so my daughter wouldn't eat the ice cream after grandma licked it bcuz she didn't have her teeth lol!!).

Now that we live closer to my dh's folks and my mom is gone my kids only see my dad on holiday's or special occasions and it breaks my heart that they don't know him. I am grateful they do know 1 set of grandparents very well and love them to bits.

I wish I had had that as a kid

 

[suzimar57]

we grew up living in my maternal grandparent's house - loved them dearly

grandma M was a loving, nurturing, wonderful woman

grandpa M was a strong, quiet, caring man

even knew my maternal great-grandmother! (she lived down the street)

but she was OLD, always dressed in black and only spoke italian

she scared little me....

now my paternal grandparents....

grandma W died when i was 5 - grandpa W died when i was 17

wasn't at all close to him - rarely saw him

my father wasn't close to his family at all - still isn't

 

[crz4mm2]

I was fortunate to live with my Grandparents when I was born until about 4th grade. My G-pa died when I was 5. I loved both of them. Was very close to my G-ma. Visiting every Sunday after I was married.

BOth have been gone for years now

My kids were lucky to live minutes from their Paternal Grandparents (both still living) and only about 30 min from my parents (only my Mom left now).

I knew my Great Grandmother (maternal) who died when I was an early teen.

 

[JVL1018]

My paternal grandparents, we saw once a week, I loved my grandpa, but wasn't particularly close to him. When we went over, he and my Dad sat in the living room and talked and me and my brothers did whatever. He died when I was 11, I don't recall being sad.
My paternal grandma(Grandma Babe) I was closer too, she came on vacations with us after my grandpa died. She lived until 2002 or 2003. I had my kids then, and the last couple of years she lived with my parents. She and my daughter used to sit and talk and eat junk food together, LOL, she had such a sweet tooth! Her cookie jar was always filled with pixie sticks, I remember it well!

My maternal grandfather died before I was born, my maternal grandma lived with us, so I was very very close to her. (She was Grandma or Gram, but when speaking about her, my brothers and I called her "Grandma Who Lives Here". LOL)

She had sleepovers with us in her room, took us to the park and to get ice cream in the weekends, was always taking one of us out to breakfast or dinner, took us on vacation. She was an amazing woman.

Born in 1902 in Italy, had polio, which ruined her lower leg and ankle, so in her later years she wore a brace and walked with a cane. Came to America(Brooklyn) as a young girl. Married, had a son, when he was 17 when she had her second child(my mom), which was a surprise to say the least!. When Mom was 3,in 1944, her brother was killed in WWII. 1965 my grandfather died. Gram got a job, had a amazing social life-I got my own phone line as a teenager because SHE tied up the house line talking to her friends too much, (btw she never bothered watching TV, she was too busy for that nonsense ;-) traveled all over the place, quit working at 88, stopped driving at 92.
Didn't stop her, she didn't ask anyone for anything, just called a taxi to take her back and forth to where she wanted to go during the day, while we were all working and couldn't ferry her around.
She broke her ankle in Dec 1999 and was never able to recover. She died in April 2000, 3 months shy if her 98th birthday. I am beyond blessed to have known her at all, let alone to have been her granddaughter.

It breaks my heart that my children don't have grandmas. My MIL died suddenly of a heart attack a week before our first child was born, and my mom died of cancer when my kids were 2 and 4. When she knew things didn't look good,she told me she wasn't afraid of dying, but she was so so sad to leave the kids(my 2 and my brother's 2).
They are missing out on so much. :*(

We don't see my Dad, but we share a 2 family house with my FIL, your typical old Italian-American grandpa and he LOVES my kids, so I am thrilled they get to live so closely to him and have him in their lives.

 

[bjscheel]

Somewhat. My Grandma K died when I was 3. Grandpa K remarried not long after and I asked my mom why Mary looked so much like grandma. She didn't look anything like grandma, so I guess I didn't remember her anymore. Even though that set of grandparents only lived 45 minutes away, we really didn't see them much so I wasn't very close with them. Everybody got along, visits just didn't happen often.

We lived in the country and my Grandma & Grandpa M lived in the town where we went to school, church, etc. so we saw them more. We sat with them in church every Sunday and I believe my Grandma insisted that we spend every Sunday lunch/afternoon with them. But, they were 78 and 74 when I was born, so they were elderly once I began to remember more. Grandma had a stroke when I was 9 so from age 9-18 my memories of her are visiting the nursing home and not being able to understand her speech. Grandpa was sweet but quiet and when I tried to pry stories out of him I didn't get very far. So for all the time we spent at their house and the nursing home I still feel like I didn't know them well enough.

My kids are very close to their grandparents. My parents live close. The kids are at my parents for an hour after school at least 2 days a week and see them at church every week, among other times. DH's are 1 hour away but we get there pretty often, and for a while, ours were the only grandchildren on that side so my girls spent more time hanging with the adults at family gatherings rather than running off with cousins which is what they do now.

 

[BlovesC]

Both of my grandfathers were deceased before I was born, and my maternal grandmother died when I was a toddler. So the only grandparent I really 'knew' was my fraternal grandmother, who lived 1,000 miles away and wasn't really the 'grandma' type.

My husband has a wonderful set of grandparents, though, and they don't live anywhere near us but I'm friends with them on facebook. We've only been married for two years, and they met me for the first time at our wedding, but his grandma posts such wonderfully encouraging things to me from time to time, and each time it amazes me, because I'm just not used to it. They're kind of what I always thought grandparents would (or should) be like.

 

[Buckalew11]

I was close to my paternal grandparents. When we moved from NJ to TN, they moved too. When we moved from one town to the next, they did too. I was blessed to have them into my 20's. They were wonderful, loving people and grandparents, fair to all three of us.

I knew both of my maternal grandparents but not real well. My grandfather was an alcoholic and trouble followed him so mom tended to separate us from him. My grandmother always worked a lot so we did not see her much and because of my grandfather's drinking problems, we were not allowed to go to their house.

DD had 4 terrific grandparents--close to all 4 but has now lost 2 grandfathers.

 

[Deb in IA]

Sadly, I only saw my paternal grandfather twice in my life, and I never met my other grandparents at all.