By Rashmi
Imagine a child sitting next to their grandparent, listening closely as they share stories from their own life, not found in any book. In those moments, grandparents pass on lessons from the past—struggles, successes, and wisdom—that help shape the child’s world. These aren’t just stories; they are valuable lessons that connect the child to a legacy of strength and resilience.
Grandparents: Teaching Resilience Through Life’s Challenges
This is especially crucial in today’s world, where many children experience isolation and loneliness, facing unique challenges they may feel unable to share with others. When grandparents recount their own life experiences—whether they faced economic hardship, personal loss, or social change—they provide a narrative that contextualizes adversity. These stories often highlight how resilience, perseverance, and coping strategies were essential during tough times. By hearing how their grandparents navigated challenges, children learn that setbacks are not insurmountable; rather, they are part of the human experience.
This sharing of history fosters a deep sense of connection and identity. Children see their grandparents as not just caregivers, but as individuals who have lived through significant events. This connection nurtures empathy and understanding, helping children to process their own emotions and experiences in a broader context. They realize that it’s okay to feel vulnerable or to face difficulties because resilience is a skill that can be cultivated over time.
How Grandparents Keep the Language Alive and Fragrant
Grandparents play a key role in passing down the tradition of speaking in their native dialect. The way they speak carries the true essence of the language, much deeper than the way parents might speak it. While parents may use the dialect in everyday conversations, grandparents often carry the fragrance of the soil in their words. They speak with the rhythm, tone, and stories that are tied to the place they grew up.
Let’s take the word ‘roti’. In modern usage, parents may refer to “रोटी” in the standard way, meaning flatbread, often used in day-to-day life without much thought about its deeper connection.
However, when grandparents, refer to it, there’s an essence of “चूल्हे की रोटी” (chulhe ki roti), emphasizing the traditional method of making it on a clay stove (chulha). They might also share stories about how they would knead the dough, roll it out, and bake it over the fire, making the word carry a much richer, nostalgic meaning tied to the land and the way of life they experienced.
The Wisdom of Slowness Passed Down by Grandparents
Grandparents embody “thairaoh”—a unique kind of slowness that goes beyond just taking time. It’s a rhythm of life that is deep, deliberate, and thoughtful. Their slow, steady gait, the way they speak with care, or how they turn the pages of a book, teaches children to appreciate the beauty of stillness. This slowness is not empty or slow-paced; it carries weight, wisdom, and a sense of calm. In a world that moves fast, the child’s only window to truly experience this rich slowness is through their grandparents. The word “thairaoh” captures this essence perfectly—it’s not just a lack of hurry, but a quiet strength, a peacefulness that anchors the present and connects them to the deeper rhythms of life.
Understanding Our Timeless Legacy
This connection to the distant past helps them recognize that they are part of a broader, enduring ecosystem that has withstood the test of time for centuries. Here is an example. Consider these uprooted flowers below; they appear lost and abandoned, unaware of their origins or the rich history they embody. They don’t recognize that they are the most coveted blossoms in the garden, and no one informs them how desolate the garden would seem without their presence.
When those same roses are part of the tree, they recognize their worth and stand firm and secure.
Grandparents offer the same grounding that helps nurture secure individuals who are confident in engaging with the world.
