Grandparents are like trees. They never fail to give us shade and fruits. Though in today’s fast moving lives, we do not have enough time to sit besides them and benefit ourselves, to listen to their stories, their experiences.

They have things to tell us that could solve hardest of problems. They are fountains of thoughts. They teach us loads of things. Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies.
I realised this in the past 10 days I got to spend with my grand mom- naani ma. Though I spend time with my daadi ma and dada ji, but I know, being modest, I too fit the category of fast paced life that has got less time for grand parents. These 10 days have been like a blessing to me. Badi mom and I were home alone as my mamu with family were off to a vacation. I had to stay back and take care of her. By god’s grace, she is healthy, but inactive- relaxing in her late years.

Badi mumma used to tell me the stories of her life- one thing I got to know is- the phases of a woman’s life- daughterhood, sisterhood, womanhood, wifehood, daughter-in-law-hood, motherhood and then grandmotherhood. I realised what differences does a woman has to pass through in a lifetime- that will certainly back me in my years to come. She taught me with her experience that without losing your individuality, your career, how does one have to justify her relationships in life.
She told me that she attended a convent prior to independence. And contrary to the systems prevailing in those times, she was married at the right age 22.
She has been a brilliant cook (now she has taken a Voluntary retirement though), and also used to take cooking classes. I got a chance to learn secret recipes from her and also some exclusive cooking tips :D (now u guys know that the inspiration behind my culinary skills is genetic ;))
One another thing I learnt with her is the value of time. Since I completed my academics, I had lost the habit of routine. I woke up and slept and abrupt timings, never had meals on time, had the fast food habits and also balanced diet was long forgotten.
While in Chandigarh, I used to wake up at 7 in the morning, make her tea, collect news paper, get milk, make breakfast and carry out other little house hold chores in the early morning in chilling winters. I bathed right in the morning. No lingering on, no procrastinating. (Even my dad is real amazed on my active-ness since I’ve come back.) All of our moms do the same things, but only we don’t realize how they manage. I did and had a chance to know.

She passed on her valued fortune as a legacy to me- the ethics, the experiences, and the difference of right from wrong. She isn’t a traditional grand mother who complains about her grandchildren’s modern outlook, but she is a fine blend of modernism and traditions. She instilled me with her caring, nurturing, loving, giving, helping traits. And I feel I am a different person- a lot better than I used to be.
In my personal opinion, one should spend more time with their grandparents to be a better being. Sometimes they feel neglected, that is the worst thing we can do to them in return of what they give us- love nd affection. I love you badi mumma and miss you too :)