Grandparents are golden

LAST Sunday, September 10, was national Grandparents Day in the Philippines, and in the United States as well. This has been tradition ever since former US President Jimmy Carter signed the act in 1978 declaring the first Sunday after Labor Day to be such. I remember learning that fact back when I was in college, and much to my delight, I was surprised to find that the Philippines also follows, and celebrates the same. Rightfully so, with Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, there ought to be Grandparent’s Day. After all, we would definitely not be here on earth without them.

While I never had the pleasure of meeting my grandparents on my dad’s side of the family (both had passed before I was even born), I only have the fondest memories with my grandparents on my mom’s side. And not only did I bask in the attention and love of my direct grandparents, I also had my grand-aunt and uncle who treated us as more than their very own. A grandparent’s love (just like a parent’s) knows no limits or bounds, with the exception of the discipline factor almost always being absent in the equation. In their defense, it’s now the turn of their children to take on that tough act. After all, it is always much easier to give in to a child’s whims than it is to say “no.” Oftentimes, the latter can catalyze a tantrum or the like, but believe me when I tell you that having strict and tough parents has its benefits. The older I get, the more respect I have for parents whose children can sit down in a restaurant through a formal dinner without being fussy, for parents whose children can behave in airplanes (most especially long-haul flights when I myself can still get restless) without inconveniencing fellow passengers, and for parents who can bring their children to mass and have them stay quiet and respect fellow church-goers in prayer. Knowing those were some of the ground rules imposed on us from very early on, while I am not yet a parent (though I do have friends who are), I know that it is not easy to get children to that level.

Children work their natural charm on their grandparents and, as the old saying goes, more often than not, “have them wrapped around their little finger.” If there is anything I am so thankful I did in my younger years, it was that I gave up a lot of time with friends to spend time with my grandparents. Because now that they are sadly no longer with us on earth, I look back on those yesteryears with so much fondness and happiness – sans regret, because I know I spent my time wisely, and filled my heart with so much memories that will last me a lifetime. I grew up around my grandparents, and maybe even managed to get them under my spell, and undoubtedly, a lot of who I am today, I have them to thank for. On top of everything my parents gave and did for me, it was largely because I was raised with their love, their counsel, their strong faith, their routine, their wisdom, and their presence that even at a young age, I managed to find so much security, in a world that can be so critical and judgmental. While I did (and still do) question myself at times, the doubt has never outweighed any certainty. It is because I was taken along with them a lot of times that I learned to talk to adults at a very young age, and the very reason why I am extremely (sometimes even more) comfortable around older people than I am with my contemporaries. Because of their strength and resilience, I learned very early on that being unapologetically yourself will always pay off, and is what you will gain respect for. And it is because of them that I learned to live with an attitude of gratitude, and to give wholeheartedly.

Losing them one after the other in my adolescent years was one of the most trying periods in my life. While I do miss them every single day, I am grateful for the years I got to spend with them, and I am thankful because I know they only left us at a time when they knew we, their loved ones, could cope and handle the loss. Having grandparents around is such a joy, and to all of you who still have the pleasure of being with them, savor every moment and take every opportunity to make more memories with them. Because one day, it’s all you’ll ever have to cling on to. So make sure, it is a bank filled with good ones!