By Yvette Tello
With Grandparents day coming up, I am blessed to still have my grandmother and she is pretty healthy, I may add. She has all her wits about her. Knowing how my grandmother worked as a migrant work- er and picked cotton, or that my grandpa was a purple heart recipient has helped me understand that I am a part of something bigger than myself. Knowing that, and knowing that previous generations survived their own hard times, helps kids learn to cope and bounce back from their own adversity. I am blessed to be a grandmother of two baby boys ages 1 and 3. There is something about the bond between grandparents and grandchildren that I can’t explain and a love that can’t be imagined until you become a grandparent. Please share your favorite memory or your grandparent’s Let’s talk about it…
Stefani Shamloo:
“ My grandfather was the only daddy I knew. He was also a migrant worker. Cesar Chavez asked him to go to D.C with him to advocate for Latino American Civil
Rights but he was afraid to fly. Actually he had a leg amputated because of diabetes and wasn’t expected to live past my 5th bday. That didn’t hold him down. He fixed anything (mainly water coolers..I know how to fix them myself because of him) and sold it from his wheelchair. My grandparents practically raised me. Loved it.”
Mike Miller:
“Our grandparents and older people are full of wisdom. Sadly many people ignore them. You are truly blessed to have her in your life. I love to chat with older people.”
Ramiro Mendez:
“We all are descendants of immigrants. We went to work up north a “las piscas” in several states picking different fruits and veggies, even though we were U.S. citizens, but we had to help our elders, for several years and we were very proud of that.“
Ramon Chapa:
“I was fortunate to have both sets of grandparents. Both of my Grandfathers were born in Piedras Negras, Coauila and both grandmothers were born in the United States. I remember as a child, both grandparents the Martinez and the Chapas; when I would visit them, they had a lot of pictures of me. At the age of 2 years to 4 years old, I was in suits. They loved that. I have a lot of cousins but I was the favorite grandson and everybody would say I was spoiled. I loved visiting my grandparents ; I remember spending quality time with them and just talking and chit-chatting and they would tell me things. It was good because I loved them. I am grandfather of two granddaughters 3 months and three years old. The older one gets away with everything. I’m her favorite. I’ll ask “who loves you more?” She answers”you do.” I love it.”
Roxy Eguia:
“My favorite memory with my grandma is being with her in her garden picking chili pequin and figs.”
Angel Benn:
“My favorite memories are riding the bus for the first time with my grandmother, spending the day shopping and going out to eat with my grandma and watching Lifetime all day with her”
