I met my mother’s mother when I was about seven years old. Before that I had not seen her due to the fact that she was abroad, going on vacation. When my grandmother came to visit us, she showered everyone with gifts. I remember how happy I was. Since then she stayed with us for a while, because she missed us very much. And so we began to get closer little by little.
Now I’m ten years old.
– Grandma, I need to make an autumn craft for school, I can’t think of anything.
– Let’s gather cones and make hedgehogs and mice. I think that would be good.
I’m eleven.
– Grandma, why won’t my mother let me go for a walk with you? – I asked in tears.
She silently left the room, and five minutes later she came back and said that my mom let me go for a walk.
– Yay, finally we’re going for a walk together!
– Yeah, except she made one condition. If you come home clean and not with torn pants, as it usually happens, the next time you can go out with me again.
And I kept my word! I tried to run carefully, I didn’t even sit down anywhere, only on Grandma’s lap.
I was thirteen.
– I got in a fight.
– Over what? – Grandma wondered.
– He started calling me names first!
– Well, I don’t care who started it first. I’ll tell you what, you can’t solve problems with your fists, at least not right away. You need to talk and straighten things out. I’m sure you’ll make up.
– He called me a stinker!
– And you were better than him when you came at him with your fists? No, of course I didn’t. I’ve been in that situation too…
That kind of talk really calmed me down, and my grandmother was always right.
I’m fifteen.
– Grandma, do you have time to go to school?
– Do you need me to take you there? I think you know the way.
– No, it’s just my parents getting called to school.
– What did you do?
– I just… I accidentally broke a window in the hallway…
– Okay, I’ll go. But promise me it was the first and last time.
– I promise! I’ll be careful!
I’m sixteen.
– Grandma, how do you feel about tattoos and piercings?
– Did you get a tattoo and get your ear pierced?
– I can’t keep anything from you.
– Do your parents know?
– I’m afraid to tell them, they forbid me to do it all.
– But you did. Well, what’s done is done. I have an idea.
You won’t believe it, but this amazing woman went and got a tattoo, too. After that, Mom and Dad never said anything to me again. Dad later, by the way, complimented my tattoo.
I’m eighteen.
It was New Year’s Eve, and I was celebrating it with friends in a rented apartment. I got home quite late, almost in the morning. My mother was already waiting for me in the kitchen.
– Honestly, had you been drinking?
– Just a little, Mom,” I answered, struggling to stay on my feet.
– What did I ask you for? – They swung a towel at me.
My grandmother rushed over at my mother’s scream and quickly sent everyone to their rooms.
In the morning I heard the conversation:
– Need I remind you what you were doing when you were eighteen?
– Oh, Mom, don’t start.
– I’ll remind you. You were literally carried into the apartment, you were up all night, throwing up. I sat next to you with a basin.
– There was no such thing…” my mother answered quietly.
– Come on, come on, tell me here. I remember everything, you can’t fool an old woman.
I waited for about an hour and then quietly went into the kitchen. My mother didn’t say a word to me, she was silky smooth.
I’m twenty-six.
– Grandma, you’re going to have great-grandchildren soon.
– I am? Oh, I can’t believe I lived to see this moment. It’s about time!
– In two days I’ll go with my wife to the hospital to find out the sex of the baby.
– Call me as soon as you find out.
– What about your parents?
– I’ll tell them myself, don’t worry. Who cares who finds out first?
I’m twenty-eight.
Our twins are a year old. I overheard my parents talking to my grandmother the other day:
– Well, now it’s my turn to be happy.
– What do you mean, your turn? – My mother laughed nervously.
– Literally, great-grandchildren are waiting, now I want to build my personal life.
– Are you serious?
– I couldn’t be more serious.
I confirmed my grandmother’s words.
– You knew everything and you didn’t tell us anything? – My father was surprised.
Yes, I knew. Grandma insisted on keeping it a secret. She blew my parents away with the news, just like she wanted to. I love her.
