Tishia at Moms Talk Network tagged me in a meme but this one is a bit different. Instead of “25 random things” this one is about Motherhood Lessons.
I’ve learned so many valuable lessons over the years, not just as a mom to my own two kids, but from my mother as I was growing up and all the other wonderful mothers around me including my grandmothers.
Something that both my grandmas had in common – they didn’t put up with shit from anyone!
You never back-talked around my grandmas and you always did what they told you. We learned early on that you could never sneak one past them.
When my maternal grandmother passed away a few years ago, I never felt so devastated in my life. Just thinking about her brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart ache because I miss her so much. She wasn’t the typical grandma that brought loads of gifts and spoiled her grandkids rotten every time she saw them.
She did bake us cookies and cake and we always looked forward to her “care packages” she would give us for birthday and Christmas gifts, but she was such a warm, caring and smart person that she didn’t need to “buy” love from her family.
She was the kind of mother that any woman would aspire to be. She showed her kids and grandkids love and respect, and we all showed her the same. If any of us were silly enough to show her anything but, we quickly learned not to make that mistake again. One disapproving look or harsh word from her was enough to make you never want to be on the receiving end of it again.
My paternal grandmother is a lot like my maternal grandmother. I’d never dream of disobeying my grandma, and even today, she has a way with my own kids that is inspiring. They listen to her better than anyone else and they get so excited when I tell her she’s coming to visit.
Last year we had a family supper at my grandma’s house and while we were all sitting around the table after supper, she was talking with my kids while they were colouring and she jokingly yelled at my son so he wouldn’t colour on the table. The rest of us adults didn’t realize she was joking at first, and we all sat up straight and had the same scared look on our faces until we saw her smiling.
She’s just such an amazing person that nobody would ever want to cross.
I think that’s the lesson I learned from both my grandmas. They are (and were) such powerful, smart, loving, kind, thoughtful women that anyone would want to emulate. The love and attention they’ve shown their families is immeasurable and none of us will ever forget it. If I can be even half as great as either of my grandmothers, I think I’m doing OK.
Tag time:
Jeanne at Jeanne’s Endo Blog
Anna at Busy Mom’s Blog
Laurie at For Bride and Baby