Maiki Lopez Abello-Banzon on her Nana and Tata, and Doda and Lolo: They taught us important values while spoiling us
Maiki Lopez Abello-Banzon on her Nana and Tata, and Doda and Lolo:
Grandparents are a second set of parents without as many rules—and a lot more chocolate and gummy bears! People say that it’s the role of a grandparent to spoil their grandchild. I think my grandparents took that role seriously, but for reasons I am only starting to see now.
Growing up, I visited my Nana’s house often. On my way to her room, I would pass through the kitchen. Each and every single time, Nana’s freshly baked apple pie and lemon squares would be cooling on the counter, ready for me and my sisters to devour. Nothing could compare to my nana’s baking.
After scarfing down our favorite desserts, my sisters and I would enter her room to greet her. As her way of saying hello, she would hold my hand and slip a Symphony chocolate bar into it. It was the only time I was allowed to eat chocolate before my meals, so I savored every bite.
When it was time to say goodbye, Nana would tell me to get some gummy bears in her room before leaving. She would give me a small envelope, and I would drop in all the red ones I picked out of the big pack. I only liked the red gummy bears, and nana knew it.
Things were no different with my Lolo. When we would eat our favorite apple pie, the older ones would cut their slices first before we could get ours. After eating mine so quickly, my Lolo would then slide his plate of uneaten apple pie to me, saying that he was just keeping it safe for me.
My grandparents spoiled us with these little things. It was obvious. But what I only realized later on was that they were sneakily teaching us important values. The chocolate, gummy bears, and apple pie taught me how to share, recycle, and respect our elders.
The chocolate bar that my Nana would give me was always for sharing with my sisters. We would open it and divide it equally among the five of us. Fortunately, the gummy bears weren’t recycled, but the envelopes we took them home in were. I found it really funny at the time, but it was my Nana’s way of showing us that we can do little things to save the environment. Of course, we have to give my Lolo credit, too. He would always make sure that we waited patiently until all the oldies had gotten their food before we did. We always have to put our elders first.
Looking back, I realized grandparents are sneaky! You think they’re spoiling you, but they actually always have a hidden agenda. They probably have just as many rules as parents do but with subtle, more sugar-filled ways of enforcing them. So, yes, my grandparents spoiled me. They showered me with sweets and treats, but more importantly, they showered me with lessons and love every single day.