I was inspired to write this article in memory of my grandmother after a phone conversation with a close friend in Virginia who happens to share the same family bloodline as me. We both started reminiscing about growing up in our community in the late 60’s early 70s’.
Today, our society has changed as we witness an entire generation of the elderly population we grew-up with slowly disappearing to illnesses and old age. Although we understand the inevitability of human life, and that generations will come and go, yet we are never prepared for the end of human life or acceptance of the reformation of society.
Growing up in a small community meant that we are all somehow connected one way or the other; whether we are first cousin, second or tenth cousins. The elderly population at that time played a very important role in our society; they were the mortar that held our foundation together, and are mostly the reason for our existence. They saw to it that we were well nurtured and protected, although modern society would consider those parental characteristics to be intrusive.
We spoke of the values and traditions that were passed on from generation to generations over the century and how these same traditions that were more receptive to the generation before us is of no significance to the generation of modern society. We convinced ourselves that we had to be the last generation to appreciate the experience and tradition of our grandparents’ way of life – now that we are of age at becoming grandparents ourselves.
Elderly people have spent a lot of time in the world and have seen things that generations after them will never witness and certainly will not understand. Elderly people taught us respect, manners, traditions, appreciation of things, and how to accept and deal with life experiences. We talked about the tradition of greeting our elders when you come in contact with them, giving up your seat for them, helping them carry things, helping them with their chores, be respectful to them and listening when they talk. In return they have passed down their experiences and values through volunteerism, giving us the tools that we need to survive and learn.
As our conversation continued into the hour we both learned something about us. We both prefer spending time with older people as opposed to people our own age. We can learn so much from their experiences; history, relationship, perseverance, gratitude, and wisdom of knowledge their long life has afforded them. Although there is much to be admired about youthfulness such as, high level of energy, determination, ambition, good health, and new vision, but if we don’t balance that approach with the finer qualities that the elderly population possess then we lose ourselves.
The writer of this article is my cousin, we are the same age and we grew up in the same household. I believe that everything she said is 100% true. I also believe there is a lot more we can add to this. For example, we can ask ourselves why do the kids of today fail to seek guidance from our older folks? Or why do they fail to tap into the vast resource of our older folks. To me our kids today just seems mindless about the exsistance of our older folks. Where have we gone wrong as parents of these young kids?
Well said cuz.
This article is right on time. Those of us who were fortunate to be blessed by our grandmothers in our upbringing as children, can never forget the “priceless” ethics of life they instilled in us,preparing us to be sound, respectable, discipline young men and women, we learn to cook, wash scrub, clean, iron, sew, they taught us how to appreciate what little we had, and was given to us, though we were not covered with all the modern technologies of this present life, we had everything we needed to make our life meaningful. Not forgetting, good local food. We ate what we grow. They taught us to respect all elders of the village, addressing all men in the village as Mr so and so, or respond to grown up men as Yes Sir, and all women Mrs so and so, or respond to grown women as, Yes Mam. Going to chruch n a Sunday was a must; they made sure we said our prayers before going to bed. I wish i could turn back the hands of time. Other adults of the village would look out for children well being. It was was truly a time one could say, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD!
It is interesting that this article was written in appreciation of the the elderly folk in soceity. As I read this article I realized that I share like passions. I seem to find elderly people more interseting. They seem to have so much more to offer than the young especially in terms of experience. What hurts though is when I hear how my people in Dominica make remarks such as certain politicians are too old an this person is too old.These comments give me the impression that there is no place for the elderly in our society and as such they are made to feel obsolete and that their contribution to society is no longer useful or for that matter needed. So now I am left to wonder what will become of me when i reach that age when I am considered “old”. It even leaves me to wonder how will these young ones who are making these types of remarks feel when they themselves will become “old”. I believe personally that everybody has a role to play in this life as little as it may seem or insignificant as it may seem. Thank you all for recognizing the value of our elderly folk and how much we have lost and we will loose if we don’t embrace and cherish them.
Great article!! I grew up with my Grandmother and I can definitely relate to your article!!
Grandmothers are just very special!!!I learned so much from my grandmother and she is the reason Y I am the person I am today..Loving, kind, helpful, forgiving, courteous and respectful..and i am passing these same qualities down unto my son..so that he will always walk a straight path and be positive in society!!
Very insightful. Presently in Dominica, Some public officials, politicians, and their ilk, spew extremely negative comments regarding our older citizens. They claim, in unrepenting tones, that our ageable brothers and sisters are too OLD to govern, too OLD to give honest advice. Some in positions of POWER opine that our ‘older citizens’ are already 60+ or 70+ and have no right to Lead anything, any Party, any organisation.
Whether the Dominican “of age” is more sound intellectually, more honest, trustworthy, or capable to manage, it doesn’t matter. It is disgraceful to make such irresponsible statements. We have been bombarded with those negative, insensitive statements, especially by some inefficient, incompetent, dishonest politicians recently.
They cast aside honest “OLD citizens” who have records of hard work in Agriculture, manufacturing, community development, teaching, etc. They refuse to listen to ‘Indigenous knowledge’ and the wisdom of the “Older folks” who have struggled day in, day out for years to build this beautiful Dominica.
Our ‘older folks’ worked hard and still do to ensure our Food security. By and lartge, they believed in “BY THE SWEAT OF THY BROW, THOU SHALL IT BREAD,” unlike the thinking these days of almost total dependence on others or foreign countries.
They built our roads with pick-axes, shovels in trying times. Many worked hard to inculcate good moral, ethical values. It is a serious indictment on some of our present younger people, now with power and in power to chastise, and demonise our “older citizens.” Is it because some of those younger folks in Power have acquired so much wealth in so short a time through dubious means? Even some older folks themselves join in that onslaught on our beloved ‘older citizens.”
A nation which is encouraged to reject its older folks as “too old’ to do anything good is doomed to fail. See what happened to two senior , innocent Dominicans one Christmas morn. Their house was firebombed. A terrible, historic, heinous crime. A year plus has passed and we are witnessing stalling tactics, hearing contradictory statements. Investigations on a GO-SLOW. That is the treatment given to our “OLDER CITIZENS, nowadays.” The calypsonian, so concerned, aptly reveals the situation in song about that atrocity.
The article brings back fond memories of our loving older folks, who even in their poverty, practiced, taught and lived and maintained good morals, which is sadly lacking in this present dispensation.
As a person raised by both parents, I was never given the chance to be with my grandparents. Two passed long before my birthday, one passed when I was five and the other I last visited when I was 13 – she too passed when I was 21. With this in mind, it was unusual for me to know elderly from my own family… yet, I spent many days caring for other’s grandparents as though my own. I enjoyed all of the experiences that I was afforded and spent many days thinking back to those days. I remember the time I have spent raising my own children and can fully appreciate the views shared here. While I would have loved to have meet my own grandparents, it is very apparent that the older generations put much more time and effort into ensuring that all children were cared for and that all families could live together in one community and not worry that a child would not come home. These are the values that our younger generation parents have lost and why many children are growing up with less concern for their elders. We need a change in order to appreciate all the lost values of days gone by!
I too have very fond memories of my grand mother. As a child it was a celebration to sleep in her bed under her arm. Grandmothers have a special smell that stays with you over the years. She taught me to read and write in cursive and I learned the multiplication tables. She was proud and independent. The tool she negotiated with was her hard work. She would always have something hidden for us to eat. Mamie I love you and will always miss you.
So true. Me too was raised by my grandmother and will cherish the opportunity I had with her. She taught me to be who I am today. Grandparents pickup on the slack of the young busy parents. They are needed in our society.
very good article. i was raised with my grandmother from 2 month old and i can tell you i prefer to spend time with older ppl and am only 23. they have so many experiences to learn from and qualities. God bless my grandmother….
so true my Grand parents were wonderful tought me how to pray and so much more they make u understand what true love is, sometimes you feel that they love u more than your own parents
I felt that way too when I was growing up. I always thought my grandparents loved me more than my parents. My parents were just starting their lives, one a police officer the other a teacher really did not have time to give me the love my grandparents gave me. I am so grateful they were in my life when I needed them most.