Grandma Millie will never be a stranger to her 11 grandchildren, no matter where they live. When her first grandchild moved away from the area, Millie called Amy and read children stories to her. Since these first grandchildren, Amy and Brock, graduated from school, they’ve moved back to Grandma and Grandpa. Both work and are continuing their education at schools nearby.
Sharon, who has six children, tells me Grandma never forgets anything: “She calls them on birthdays, first day of school, holidays and if they have a big test – whatever! She always tries to attend at least one activity each year for each of the kids. That might not be a big deal, but when you live 13 hours away, it’s a big deal!”
When the kids were younger Sharon says, even though they could afford it, Mom sent packages of fruit snacks, or candy, individually wrapped with their names on them. The kids loved getting something special just for them. She said the kids have at least 1,000 key chains that her Mom picked up at yard sales or wherever she went.
Sharon says all of her children have a great relationship with their grandma. Her son, Kyle, signed up for a class in high school because “Grandma would like it.” The oldest, David, chose German in high school because of his Grandma. She also taught the youngest, Allison, how to crochet. In turn, Allison taught some girls at her church to crochet and was proud to say, “My Grandma taught me!”
Once the grandchildren are old enough, they take turns vacationing at Grandma and Grandpa’s home.
Recently, Millie and David remodeled and built an addition to their home. As Elizabeth puts it, “They built an entire section onto the house, just for the one or two occasions when we are all home, so we have a place to stay and it’s easier on us and our families. They never use these rooms!”
In my own case, when I was divorced, it was Millie and David who gave me a bookkeeping job for their business. Their generosity didn’t end there. They gave me a piece of land for one dollar (which I gave back upon moving) to move my modular home on.
They moved me three times, without pay. While I was doing the bookkeeping they, with six children of their own, invited three of mine on a two-week family vacation, all in one large station wagon!
Millie’s six sister-in-law’s – Anita, Jannetta, Mary Alice, Gladys, Dorothy and myself – officially adopted her as a sister. She attends our traditional birthday parties and is always thinking of the other person. She had crocheted not only our first names but our last names (and some are rather long) and given them to us to frame. Some of our own children have received these crocheted items as well.
If Millie hears one of us say we could use something, she does her best to get it. Recently, she brought me a box of computer paper that her daughter wasn’t using any more. She had heard me say I was running out of scrap paper, which I use to write my stories on before typing them.
Since my 80 year old sister’s husband was placed in a nursing home, Millie tries to call her every day, just because “she’s alone now.”
Millie isn’t “just a mom.” She’s a teacher. She teaches through her life of nurturing, not to be a victim of childhood trauma, but to conquer it by making a better world by nurturing others.
Sharon added, “Mom taught by example. She gave her time, her love, her effort, to us as a family. She taught the example the importance of families. She always put family first.”
The best way I can sum up how she expresses love through nurturing others is from a recent experience she had with a group of women. The speaker had asked the women to stand and tell others what they did in life. After these women announced their professional status, Millie, who knew where her strength was, stood up, smiled proudly and announced, “I’m a mother!”
Carole Christman Koch grew up in Berks County and has been published in numerous publications. She has a passion for writing and has many stories from growing up on a farm to everyday stories.
