Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~Welsh Proverb
I will never get tired of sharing this. One Easter, when Matthew was only four, we were busy helping an uncle paint eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt that will happen the next morning. Matthew was counting the eggs like this, “One for Mommy, one for Daddy, one for Tita Abbie, two for Lola because she is the best…”
The private joke stuck and was always the punch line when my Mom would dote on my kids or when my kids would specifically ask her. You can also feel it even now, because Matthew would always cling to my mom and would follow her advice to the letter (the reason why he STILL puts on lotion and powder, dries in between his toes before putting on socks, and praying before going to the bed).
The Lolo, on the other hand, is the richest man in his grandkids’ eyes. You need to buy something? Ask Lolo. You don’t have food? Ask Lolo. Lolo never runs out of money. Sure, my kids have simple wants – an ice cream tub waiting for them at every visit, Jollibee getaways after Church and endless pieces of junk food ALL the time. But the Lolo has never denied them anything – even if he needed to look for loose pennies.
My in-laws are the same. I honestly miss them, especially when I need to make sumbong their son (hehehe), but they were silent strong supporters of our marriage. They were the ones who took care of Matthew when I was still studying and supported us during our early years of marriage. They never got to enjoy the princess anymore since they left for the US but they are arriving next month to stay for awhile so I’m sure they will have plenty of time to catch up on her antics.
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I also had the best and most interesting set of grandparents. I am thankful I was able to get to know them before three of them passed away. It is quite helpful to know them as I got to know my roots, why certain actions played a bit in our past – and has really helped me open up and understand things in my family. Whenever I think of my grandparents, I remember Old Manila, pandesal, horse racing, the most delicious tapa, lengua and fried chicken, curse words muttered in joy, anger and every other sentence in between, mangoes, books, smoke, and many many more.
I wish I can be like my Mom someday, if only I can hear my apo tell people, “Lola is the best!”
IT’S THEIR DAY TODAY, MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM THEY ARE THE BEST!
by maroseqf
16 Sep 2009 at 13:48
the best talaga ang mga lolo at lola. Especially pag first time nila maging grandparents.
by Eds
20 Sep 2009 at 19:43
Every grandparents really love their apos… minsan more than their children
Passing by sis..