We are not pirates out looking for our buried treasure nor are we any other type of treasure hunter, but each and every morning after milking, my husband heads to the large brick house on the farm for breakfast and finds a treasure. He sits at the kitchen table and enjoys a bowl of cereal amongst company of his 87-year old grandmother. Many times she shares stories of how it was for her and then he’ll edge her on a bit with conversation meant to tease his grandmother whole-heartedly.
We operate a family dairy operation and on the farm lives Dan’s grandmother. His father and stepmother are just across the road, while we live another hundred feet to the north. Our three sons have grown up surrounded by grandparents and their great-grandmother. The oldest two know exactly where great-grandma hides the chocolate candies and if I am ever looking for them, her place is the first to check as they are often sharing a story with her about the new kittens they found at the farm or how many tomatoes they’ve picked for her.
Our children may not understand it yet, but the values and respect for elders they are gaining from their everyday contact on our family farm is immeasurable. I sometimes feel that we may take for granted the opportunity we have each day to learn and share with our grandparents. Our grandparents are a treasure and I’m so glad my sons have each day to be with them.
I had a similar childhood situation and developed a very close relationship with my grandmother, Lois. While I was in the sixth grade I wrote an essay for Grandparents’ Day and would like to share it with you. I’m sure we all have of our stories to tell about those we “treasure” and feel free to add your own.
My Grandmother
By: Seena (Larson) Glessing, sixth grader
Published Springfield Advanced Press, Spring 1990
My grandmother and I spend lots of times together. Sometimes we would drive through Ramsey Park and enjoy the view. We would talk about things that were on our minds and she would tell me about things that have been happening in Redwood Falls. We would go window shopping, or when we went to the grocery store, I’d always ride in the bottom of the cart and she would push. When we would clean house I would always dust the furniture and I would water the plants (I still do). She’s always getting new plants so she still has to tell me how much water they get.
When I was little, I would stay at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s over the weekend, and on Sunday we would go to church and I would snuggle up to her and fall asleep (boy, did Rev. Gray have good sermons!) and Grandma would wrap her arm around me and hold me tight. When I would stay at her house on weekends, she would make breakfast around 7:00 to 7:30a.m. and sometimes I would help her. After breakfast she would read to Grandpa and me out of the Daily Devotions.
Whenever Grandma finds time, or my parents have time, I go up to her house and she comes to our house. We play cards and drink tea (I drink black tea and milk). When I’m up in Redwood at Grandma’s, Grandma, Grandpa and I play Skip-Bo. She taught me some of her first card games. We play the piano and sing songs. Grandma taught me my first Christmas song, “Away In a Manger,” and she’s been teaching me more.
At Christmas I always put up the manger scene, but sometimes she has to help me because the camels don’t stay up very good. After we’ve set up everything, we both plug in the lights on the tree and in the manger scene.
Grandma always supports me in fruit sales and my food project for the fair. She has always been there for me in sharing secrets.
Mary Lois Slaymaker (Lois) was born in 1915 in Illinois. She is 75 in 1990 and had five children, two girls and three boys. My grandmother is a “Grandmother” to many grandchildren, including me. I love my Grandma.
Grandma Lois went to be with the Lord in September 1997. It is through her guidance that I developed my faith, the importance of family, the power in volunteerism, and appreciation for all living things. Thank you to all grandparents who touch our lives in many ways, I feel extremely fortunate to have grown up on a family farm that provided me hours of enjoyment with my grandparents.