TODAY’S POLL

LAST POLL RESULTS

41% of you voted They were a major part of my life in yesterday’s poll: What role did your grandparents play in your childhood?

“Definitely a major part of my life. I miss them very much and think about them often. My dad’s side of the family was very close. And the cooking… Oh gosh, what can I say? Such good memories of growing up, and so many of these people are gone now, both young and old. Yet another reason I’d do anything to go back to the ’70s and ’80s.”

“I grew up in a 5-apartment building. My maternal grandparents lived on the 3rd floor, and we were on the 2nd. I was with them much of the time. Sadly, they both passed when I was only 6, but I have so many wonderful memories.”

“My grandmothers were both part of my life growing up. My maternal grandmother was very playful with us kids. She was the best.”

“My maternal grandmother was far more of a true mother to me than my biological one.”

“I loved them all, but my mother’s mother was especially impactful. From 2nd through 6th grade, she was probably one of my very best friends and helped shape who I am today, many decades later.”

“My mom worked full-time throughout my childhood, so my grandma was the one who picked me up from school, took me to activities, and loved me like a mom. She’s been gone 41 years, and I still miss her every day.”

“My grandparents were the biggest part of my life, since my parents both worked more than full-time.”

“They lived with us for three years.”

“My Nana lived with us for years. She was a trip.”

“Three generations in our household.”

“My mother’s parents lived locally and were a significant part of my life until I left for college (and my grandfather for a few more years after that): overnight stays, gardening, games in the backyard, and stories of growing up on farms. Nothing compares to the welcoming, nonjudgmental love of engaged grandparents!”

“They were babysitters, sports fans, gift-givers, and a part of every weekend of my life until I left for school at age 16.”

“Grandparents are the best!”

“As was my great-grandfather.”

“To this day, I remember my Granddad. He always had something good to say and helped me with many projects, like making coaster carts to go down the hill in front of his house. He let me help stoke the coal furnace and made us kids pancakes on Saturday mornings. He worked for the Post Office for most of his career and retired from there. He was gone 6 months later. He never should have retired!”

“My dad’s parents were really old, so I knew them mostly through the stories my dad told us. He idolized his father. My mother’s mom passed away when my mom was 8, so she was raised by her father and her aunt and uncle. I loved them all. My grandfather was a very sweet, very interesting, and proud Swede. I still miss Grandpa, Auntie, and Uncle.”

“All but 1 (and I managed to have 4 sets instead of 2) were dead by the time I was 5… Before then? Very involved. After then? Less so lol.”

“I only knew my mother’s father; everyone else had passed away. I will say he was awesome! He had beehives, flower gardens, vegetable gardens, and a dog. He loved to walk down to the park. Mind you, all of this was in the city, too. I really took after him and have such great memories.”

“2 LIVED IN MAINE. WE VISITED EVERY SUMMER. MY OTHER GRANDPA LIVED CLOSE BY, BUT WE ONLY SAW HIM OCCASIONALLY.”

“They lived in another state, so I only saw them for one week each year.”

“They lived far away from us. I only saw them about once a year.”

“Holidays.”

“Both sets of grandparents lived locally, but we really only saw them on occasions like birthdays, holidays, and special events. As an adult, when I realized my parents were emotionally unavailable, abusive narcissists, it made sense why they didn’t really care whether their kids had any sort of relationship with their own parents. Too late now.”

“My childhood was tumultuous. My grandmother (there was no grandfather) was always the ‘safe place.’ My siblings and I had her phone number memorized in case something were to happen. I remember that number to this day, although she passed away many years ago.”

“It would have been nice to have grandparents that were involved in my life, but the other grandchildren were more important.”

“I had grandparents overseas whom I didn’t meet until I was a teenager, and my other grandparents died very young. My great-grandma was there until she was in her 90s. We were such a big family, we had to share her since our grandparents were deceased.”

“My paternal grandmother died when I was 5. My maternal grandfather died when my mom was 10, so I never knew him. My paternal grandfather lived with us after he developed dementia and wasn’t aware of who we were. He died when I was 15. My maternal grandmother never fully got over her husband’s death and took turns living with her older daughters. She visited us occasionally until she passed away when I was 18.”

“They had all passed on before we were old enough to remember them.”

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