Sarahritchie17 Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! You are all incredible warriors in your own ways. Moms are some of the most hardworking people I know. Remember to thank your mama today and everyday for all she does and send her some love.
Last Mother’s Day, I reflected on things my mom has taught me (so far). This year I wanted to write about the lessons I’ve learned from my grandmas over the years.
1. Fulfillment and happiness doesn’t come from money or things but from the relationships you have with people.
My grandma is over 70 and to this day, she works tirelessly on her and my Uncle’s farm. The work they do does not come with a 401K or even a modest salary, but from what I can tell, they are truly happy and fulfilled. The relationships they have with their customers, the community, and our family are the most pure and grounded that I’ve ever witnessed, and I think that’s what brings them fulfillment at the end of each day.
2. Sustainability.
My grandma was composting, using wax wraps, growing her own food, and eating a vegetarian diet before any of that was cool.
3. Hum when you’re happy.
One thing I’ve always loved about my grandma is that she hums when she’s in her kitchen. When she’s cooking or doing dishes, she’s looking out the window at the birds who frequent her feeders, and she’s humming. I don’t think it’s a conscious thing, but it’s a sweet mannerism of hers. One day when I was younger I subconsciously adopted the habit too, and my mom noticed. She was like, “You know who else does that?”
4. Stay active, get outside, and work hard.
Working on the farm requires a lot of manual labor, but Grandma gets up and does it every day. Sometimes I worry about her doing too much for her age, but I also think that these things have contributed to her good health.
5. Eat organic veggies and live off the land.
My grandma makes the greatest soups and Thanksgiving feasts because all the food comes fresh from the farm. From my grandparents’ and uncle’s farm, I learned about farmers markets and gained an appreciation for all the work that goes in behind the scenes. That’s why it’s so important to me to find my local farmer’s market when I move to a new town, go as much as my schedule allows, and buy local when I can.
6. Stop and smell the flowers.
Part of the beauty in having plants is watching them grow under your care. When you tend to something on a regular basis, you can choose to let it become a mundane task, or you can choose to find gratitude in the fruits of your labor. No matter how hard the farm life could get, my grandma always takes time to smell the flowers, and she knows the names of them all from the time and care she’s put in over the years.
7. Always send holiday cards.
Grandma always sends cards for birthdays and holidays including Valentine’s Day, and they always show up on time. I’m terrible at remembering to put cards in the mail ahead of time, but I’m working on it because I know how much it means to get snail mail from people you love.
8. Don’t be the first to hang up the phone.
My grandparents usually don’t hang up the phone first. They’ll say goodbye 5 times before they end the call. I’m not sure why they do it, but nowadays I find it to be a nice gesture. If I can avoid it, I try not to schedule phone calls with friends and family right before other obligations. This ensures that I can give them my full, undivided attention and that the conversation is free to wind wherever it wants for however long it needs.
9. Trifle is the best dessert.
If you’ve never heard of Trifle, it’s a British dessert with layers of sponge cake, fruit, jello, and cream. The first time my grandma made it for me, I fell in love. It’s pretty much all my favorite desserts in one, and it looks beautiful too. Make it in a large glass bowl so you can see all the layers.
10. Don’t be afraid to take risks.
One of the stories that my grandparents tell is how they immigrated to the U.S. with just a few cents in their pockets. From just pocket change, they started a new life together and made the American dream a reality for themselves. Their story reminds me that deciding to do the thing that scares you can change your life and be the greatest decision you ever made.
11. Belly laughs are good for you.
Grandma has the best laugh. I could listen to her giggle all day. It’s contagious too. She starts laughing, and suddenly the whole room is laughing with her. When was the last time you had a really good, almost wet your pants, kind of belly laugh?
12. The greatest gifts are crafted by hand with love.
All my life, Grandma has sewn beautiful quilts for first my parents then me as well. She gifted me quilts for both my high school and college graduations, and they are the best blankets to cuddle up on the couch with. Usually in the corner, she adds a patch that says who she made the quilt for and that it was made by her. I think personalized gifts like that are often the ones people cherish the most.
What are some of the subtle and hidden lessons you’ve learned from the moms in your life? I’d love for you to share them in the comments!
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Cheers!
Sarah
