What Advice Did Your Grandma Give You?
In 2017 Country Living magazine did a wonderful thing…they asked grandmas what they most want their grandkids to know—and asked adult grandkids to share their favorite grandmotherly lessons and quotes about life.
The following is a good sampling of the responses they received. What struck me is how simple, straightforward, and doable all of them are. Guess that’s just another reason grandmas are so loved. they don’t mince words and they really do love you to the moon and back…
If you’d like to add to this list, please feel free to share here
Have Money of Your Own
“One piece of wisdom from my grandmother that has always served me well is, ‘Always have your own money and pretend the snakes are on it.’ In other words, be sure you have a rainy day fund that only you can access.” – Linda Landsman, Merrick, NY
Be Respectful and Loving to All
“My message to my grandchildren is to always show love and respect to everyone who comes into your life no matter the color of their skin. We are all human. We all bleed red, and we all come from this earth.” —Lacretia Holt Pollard, Fort Worth, TX
Love and Respect Yourself
“I’m about to become a grandparent and I want to tell my grandchild, ‘Have love and respect for your family, and your friends but above all, yourself.'” —Maxine Tracey Gilbert, Bedfordshire, England
Make Sure Your Partner Shares the Chores
“My grandmother used to say, ‘Don’t make yourself too useful.’ She meant especially at home. Let your husband make the coffee, do laundry, or other household chores.” – Hilary Harley, Boston, MA
Don’t Be Afraid to Tell The Truth
“My grandmother would say, ‘Dear, there is nothing that you can say that will shock me.” —Grandma, Catherine Lunn, Jeffersonville, NY
Shed Your Tears In Private
“My grandmother had a lot of wisdom, but her best was, ‘Never let them see you sweat. You can cry at home with loved ones, but always be tough on the outside.'” – Kari Bentley-Quinn, New York, NY
Never Lose Hope
“Life is hard! There will times where my grandson will need to summon all his strength to persevere. My message is, ‘Never lose hope. And never underestimate the power of prayer.'” –Kat Hawthorne, San Bernardino County, CA
Talk Don’t Text
“I have five grandchildren and I tell them: ‘Turn your cellphones off and talk to people! Be present.’ There is nothing worse than kids not connecting because of their devices.” –Paula Millhouse, Savannah, GA
Choose a Career You Love
“For my own dear girls, my granddaughters, I would tell them to seek out work that you love doing. It will fill your soul.” – Linda Landsman, Merrick, NY
Love and Respect Yourself
“I’m about to become a grandparent and I want to tell my grandchild, ‘Have love and respect for your family, and your friends but above all, yourself.'” —Maxine Tracey Gilbert, Bedfordshire, England
Have a Good Work Ethic
“I want my grandchild to have integrity, pride, and a good work ethic.” – Kat Hawthorne, San Bernardino County, CA
Do Your Best
“I want them to always be respectful, honest, and kind to others. And my message is, ‘Put your best self forward and always do your best.'”– Grandma, Annette Tomplait, Cambridge, Ohio
Try to “Be Good”
“My grandma used to say, ‘Be good … and if you can’t be good, be smart.’ It had many applications!” —Dana Naparty Hirdt, Philadelphia, PA
Love Is the Most Important Thing
“I want my grandchildren to know love shouldn’t have borders of biology and that love has no bounds or limits. They should just love.” —Scarlett Harris, Lafayette, LA
Don’t Stay In a Bad Marriage
“On my wedding day, my nanna took me to one side and said, ‘Only stay together as long as you’re happy. When you don’t make each other happy anymore, get a divorce.’ We’ve been married 22 years now and I will never forget those words.” —Herlinde Ringwood, Manchester, England
Don’t Fall in Love at a Bar
“My grandmother would remind me, ‘Dear, if you meet a man in a bar … that is where he will be throughout your marriage.” –Catherine Lunn, Jeffersonville, NY
Find Someone Who’s All In
“My Grams used to tell me, ‘Be sure to marry a man that loves you more than you love him.'” – Heather Mann, San Francisco, CA
Make Wise Choices
“I want my grandchildren to know that when you make good choices in life, you are in a better position to have good results.” —Grandma, Lucy Goodrich, Houston, TX
Never Be Afraid to Express Your Feelings
“I want my grandson to know himself, and that his words reflect his character, so he should always be truthful. That his feelings and opinions matter, so he should never be embarrassed about expressing them. I want him to understand his relationship to the earth, to master physical survival and to find his tribe, the people who love him and with whom he can share his gifts in a cooperative fashion.” ― Roxanne Torre, Wilmington, NC
Be Creative and Dream Big
“The things I’m trying to instill in my grandkids are that it’s okay to be exactly who you are. Ask for what you want. It’s okay to be really, really messy if you want. DREAM BIG! Paint! Create! Dance! Sing! Plant things and know how to cook so you can feed yourself. You don’t need anyone to save you.” –Barbara O’Neal, Colorado Springs, CO
Make Something of Your Life
“I have 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren and I tell them all the same thing: ‘Don’t get involved with drugs or not-nice friends. Behave yourself and listen to your parents. Go to school and try to make something of yourself. Remember to do nice things for other people and do volunteer work.'” ―Shirley Hirsch Brockway, Queens, NY
Today’s grandmas, Nanas, Mimis, Gigis may have much different advice. What do you think? What advice do you want to give your grandchildren? Click here!
If you’d like to add to this list, please feel free to share here.
