I never knew my grandparents.

My mum's mother died when she was 11, and her dad died when she was about 16. She never talked about them much at all, either, when we were growing up. I knew virtually nothing about them.

My dad immigrated from his home country when he was about 20 years old. His parents visited our country once (for a few weeks) while I was growing up, and we lived over there for a few months when I was about 10.

Neither of my dad's mother or father spoke English. Apparently, I learned dutch - my dad's native tongue - very quickly and I liked being with my grandfather, but my dad was one of 12 children, most of who stayed in the home country very close to the parents, so my brothers and I weren't exactly special - among around 30 or so grandkids....

Not having grandparents in your life seems to cause such a break in the natural order. I think it breaks continuity of context in a big way, among other things. So much harder to understand your own parents - who they are, how their own parents influenced them, why they do certain things - just understanding that there is a past that existed before you came along.

I've since learned quite a bit about my mother's mother, and I've come to feel close to her spiritually. I think she's always been around, although I never recognized that feeling until very recently.

I don't envy folks who know their grandparents, even if its only one, but if you do, be grateful. Not having grandparents is pretty hard.

I never knew my grandparents.

My mum's mother died when she was 11, and her dad died when she was about 16. She never talked about them much at all, either, when we were growing up. I knew virtually nothing about them.

My dad immigrated from his home country when he was about 20 years old. His parents visited out country once (for a few weeks) while I was growing up, and we lived over there for a few months when I was about 10.

Both my dad's mother and father didn't speak English, and well, my dad was one of 12 children, so my brothers and I weren't exactly special - among around 30 or so grandkids....

Not having grandparents (around) brings such break in the natural order. It breaks continuity of context. So much harder to understand your own parents - who they are, how their own parents influenced them, etc.

I've since quite a bit about my mother's mother, and I've come to feel close to her spiritually. I think she's always been around, although I never recognized that feeling until very recently.

I don't envy folks who know their grandparents, even if its only one, but if you do, be grateful. Not having grandparents is pretty hard.