Becoming a mom—what a beautiful role. It gives us wings. We feel filled with wonder, and this role opens our eyes, reminding us of our own childhood. We relive the good times and the not-so-good times with our parents, among others.
We come to realize the sacrifices they made throughout our lives—lives shaped by wonderful people who are now much older and, in some cases, have even passed away: our parents and grandparents. When we were young, we saw our grandparents as an escape from the daily routine at home, and their house was a place where chocolate and candy were allowed. They were always ready to help our parents—available and devoted to their roles as grandpa and grandma. It was there that we discovered our passions for so many things. We spent such pleasant moments there, and at the time, we didn’t realize how lucky we were. There were so many wonderful Sundays, one after another—oh yes! Games of hide-and-seek, feeding the little calves, walking in the garden with Grandma, and learning so many things there that, today, leave us with such beautiful memories and are part of who we’ve become.
We, too, have grown up, gone to school, and now we’re living adult lives—work, children. That’s also when we realize where we may have gone too far with our parents, because now it’s our turn to go through it—and above all, that’s when our parents become even more important to us than they already were: they’re now that open door for our children, full of treats, gifts, and time to play.
But we mustn’t forget our own grandparents, who—if we’re lucky enough to still have them—are our children’s great-grandparents. Unfortunately, time catches up with them, and their lives begin to move toward the end. Let’s give them a chance to see our children. With eyes full of stars, they’ll thank you and remember you as you were when you were little; they’ll revisit old memories, and new ones will be added as well.
When the time comes to say goodbye, we feel no regret, only deep sorrow and gratitude for all they’ve left us—both as a legacy and as a model for the future. Every evening, a few words in their memory soothe a mother’s heart, and it’s an opportunity to show our children just how beautiful life is, and how much older people can give us and teach us.
This text is in memory of my Grandpa Pierre and my Grandma Rolande, who were two wonderful people to me. I have so many memories to pass on to my children.