6 Life Lessons From My Grandparents to My Grandkids

Children grow up while we parents are deep in the throes of “life.” As nutritionists, VPs of bathroom maintenance, bedtime referees and recipients of eye rolls, shrugs and the occasional surprise hug, we often miss the chance to fully appreciate what is happening around us.

As a grandparent, it’s completely different. Time spent with a grandchild is uninterrupted joy.

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When my grandchildren were young teens, every Wednesday we had a free hour between activities to share a wonderful weekly dinner. We ate mussels (yes, I introduced them to all the finest foods), and while they sipped root beer and I enjoyed a fine glass of wine, we talked about friends, food, grades, dreams. I cherished these meals with all my heart.

At one dinner, my mind drifted out of the room. I was remembering a conversation between my grandparents and me in which they gave me advice on how to get the most out of each day and live a wonderful life. And then without warning, the words tumbled out of my mouth as I passed them along to my grandchildren.

Here are some lessons that I hope they took to heart.

Follow your dreams

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My grandparents owned a very successful hardware store in Los Angeles. I remember my grandmother wearing sturdy shoes and thick socks. While other grandmothers stayed home, crocheting quilts and playing mah-jongg, my grandmother walked several blocks to their store and spent her days tallying numbers while my grandfather sold can openers, bolts and cast-iron cookware. They told me they were living their dream. And not to let anyone get in the way of mine.

My granddaughter has dreams of a being a dancer and an actor. My grandson dreams of being an artist. I repeated to them my grandmother’s words: Don’t let anyone talk you out of what they think may be impossible. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to paint, paint. All the great artists — in fact, all old people — were once young. They all started with a dream. We can only hope they pursued them as adults.

Save for a rainy day

My grandmother kept galoshes and an umbrella in her hall closet, but that hardly seemed like anything that would help me in life unless I had to walk to someplace important in the rain. And although my grandparents did walk everywhere, I planned on driving as soon as I turned 16. But as I grew up and started working, I realized the significance of that statement. I began paying myself first out of every paycheck and explained savings and 401(k) programs to my grandchildren.

Take care of your skin

When I was growing up, all women of a certain age had a jar of Ponds on their bathroom counter. My grandmother used a simple bar of soap to clean her skin and then applied Ponds to her face. With today’s emphasis on beautiful skin and eternal youth, I caution my grandchildren about the danger of too much sun. And though I purchase many overpriced anti-aging creams, I still use Ponds to remove my eye makeup. When my granddaughter, now a 20-year-old woman, came to spend the night, my jar mysteriously traveled from my bathroom to hers.