I was thinking (yes, that’s right, miracles happen) how many of us know our grandparents really well? No, knowing their names, professions, and that they are your grandparents is not enough. I am talking about what they like, what they dislike, their education, whether they loved someone when they were young, more about them.
I admit, I don’t know much about my grandparents, other than the fact that they are my grandparents and love me. Grandparents are very kind (in most cases) to their grandchildren and I think as grandchildren, we should try to get to know them better at a personal level, as friends, not as grandchildren.
**Paternal Side: **Grandpa was in Pakistan army and passed away when my dad was 16. Grandmother spent her life taking care of her children as a single mother and now she’s in England.
Maternal Side: Grandpa is a retired Forest officer. Grandmother used to be a high school teacher. Both are in Pakistan.
Do you think you know enough about your grandparents?
I was quiet young when moms father passed away.....mom's mother lives near us....I suppose what i know about her is through my mom...not directly talking to her.
dads parents are both here too....i dont talk much to dads father but im really close to dads mom and me and her often talk alot....so i guess I do know alot about her:) i can easily talk to her comfortably cuz shes really sweet :)
I know a few things, but mostly, that dadi hated my mom, so as bad as it is, I dont’ relaly remember her favorably.. Maybe because I never knew her (died when i was a few yrs old) so I dont have that connection to her..
Dada abu died before my dad married..
Nana abu was an electrician I think.. he worked hard and bought ammi the most expesnive set of dishes as part of her jahez, it cost 2500 rs.. Ammi only used it for the first EVER when we were there this spring.. she wont use it now coz it reminds her of her daddy and if it breaks, who will buy her a new set
Nanni ami hated how her daughters in laws treated her and wanted my mom to divorce.. but my eldest khala , kinda my surrogate nanni, said no..
Sara, I think we should just look at our grandparents through our own eyes and heart, not our parents. Parents and grandparents rarely get along and each story has two sides. Not talking about your mom and grandma particularly, but in general you'll believe what your mom has been telling you as a child. Ofcourse if you had talked to your grandma, her side of the story might've been a little different. That's how it used to be in my family as well. There's just so much saas bahu politics that goes on in desi families. Especially in your case, although you didn't know your grandmother very well, you still shouldn't think of her in an unfavorable manner. She's dead and one should always remember the deceased in better words. :)
^ Its not that i think of her badly now, that i curse her but i just dont think of her.. my mom only told me this stuff two yrs ago.. i had never known any of it before. I know they’re blood but wheN i remember that when my mom had a baby girl (before my brother) and dadi said “accha hua” (she was born dead).. i cant conjure up any sympathy .. :no:
I want my kids will have their nana and nani (and dada n dadi) around forever..
Oh and I will add one more thing. What goes around, comes around. I've tried it so many times. The way I treat others, other treat me the same way. I've heard the way your treat your parents/grandparents, your kids will treat their parents/grandparents the same way. Not sure how true that is, but it makes sense. And may Allah grant everyone's parents long healthy life, Ameen.
^ I do believe in that, however, I’ve never treated my grandparents in any way (maybe sat on my dadi’s face, but i was only 8 months old ) because they all died.. .. i hope this is one thing that iwll be different wheN i have kids
Not too much.
Never saw my Grandfather. He was martyred in 1947
Dadi died when I was about 10. She was a really gentle lady and used to tell us stories and we liked cuddling upto her in the cold winter nights.
Nana and nani didnt live in karachi. We just used to go visit them sometimes, but not every year. My nana was a zamindar of sindh, also a very good shikari. In that village home I remember there was a skull of a Stag (Bara Singha) complete with big horns. Anyway, the memories are pretty vague. They both died in the 70s. May allah (swt) forgive their sins and grant them a place in Jannah. Ameen
) because they all died.. 
