Grandmas that are Powerful

Hey everyone:

I was painting and creating a few things for a market and got to thinking about my Grandma. She’s been gone now for close to 30 years, yet she was the one woman who has never left heart. My other Grandma hasn’t either, as she left the world about the same time as my other Grandma. Both woman made such an impact on my life. When I was a teenager I wasn’t the best Grandchild. Yet I love them lots.

Both ladies were the glue that held their families together. Without them the families drifted apart. Sometimes hurting each other in the process at times. I think back and hope one day I’ll make them both proud. Neither one considered themselves feminists, but they did so much to help those in need where they could.

My one Grandma sang at church, made food and baked goods for the church. She helped to get money for her church on top of looking after her husband, children, and grandchildren. She was a flurry of activity always. Whether in the kitchen, or out. When I was over she had a hard time. As a kid it took me three hours to eat. I’m not sure why. I’d try to eat fast but I just couldn’t do it. She’d be cleaning and working while I ate. She never yelled or made me feel bad about it either. Sometimes we’d talk, sometimes it was quiet. I felt safe and loved there.

When I was young, I saw the news asking for toys for Children. I asked my Grandma why it was needed as Santa brought all kids gifts. Do you know how she explained? She told me that some parents couldn’t afford toys for their children and felt bad that only Santa could get them toys. I cried. Then I got my favourite toy from Grandma’s stash and asked Santa to give it to a child in need. The one who was Santa did. I’ll never forget how happy that made me feel.

Even through things like this my Grandma was a strong woman. She had secrets, and fought Cancer. She didn’t win, but she was so strong and tried so hard to stay around for us. Strong woman don’t give up even when they want to. To me a strong woman is someone who is kind, fights for what’s right, makes the world around them better no matter how small her world is. Twenty plus years after my Grandma died, Grandpa died. The church still remembered her at that time and brought her and Grandpa back to me, in my grief and anger just for a second. I want to be remembered for the good things I do as much as she was. Not for the bad.

My other Grandma was the one everyone told their troubles too. She’d hang on to your ever word and held your hand. She’d make you laugh until you cried. She had 8 children in a tiny shack and no one felt unloved or uncared for. Or that they were lacking in anything even though they were. I couldn’t speak French as good as that side of the family, they were always way to fast for me to understand yet I never felt like an outsider as she held my hand. She even learn three words in English to talk to me. “I love you.” How great is that? Again I felt safe and loved.

Grandma began to lose her memory as she grew older. Yet she still showed love to others, and gave them old memories they didn’t know about. She tried hard to stay as well, but Dementia took her just like it took others.

Who is the woman that made you, you? Will you still remember them? Was their kindness front and centre, but if you pissed them off, would they come at you with all they got! Don’t forget to tell them that you love them. No matter if they were a teacher, janitor, friend, family member, etc. Let them know how powerfully they affect you, before they are gone. They deserve to hear it for all they do.