“Once upon a time there lived a little princess, she fell in love with a prince who hailed from a wealthy family.” This is how our grandmother began to narrate the story. So fast does a dense jungle regain its lush strength after a light rain, more similarly, we were inspired by her stories. If you are from an extended family, you will undoubtedly feel that your grandmother is a source of inspiration.
As a caregiver
In most nuclear families both parents are employed. The city-dwellers known as “Posh People” are overloaded with work and do not have time even to have their breakfast. They can be seen having their breakfast in their vehicles while travelling.
Their children grow up in day-care centres away from even a shadow of their own parents. Imagine how pathetic their lifestyle is? Perhaps you may have seen birds feeding their babies and teaching them how to fly.
Sadly, these children in day-care centres have already missed even the opportunity to be with their parents. If regarded from this perspective, you might find those birds to be luckier than children. The role played by grandparents in extended families is vital.
A grandmother can be a children’s caregiver when parents are absent. They heal children’s hearts by instilling good thoughts into their minds and expel their evil thoughts by talking with them in a friendly manner. Not only do they cushion the severity of problems but also nurture kids’ minds. In addition, many years ago we did not have smartphones and tabs for entertainment purposes.
We were in the habit of listening to stories. But we could visualise stories when our grandmother narrates them. You might remember that when your grandmother was narrating a story in your childhood, she sometimes used a hook to keep you enthralled throughout the story. That is how we spent our evenings and nights with our grandmother at home.
As a source of wisdom
By 2030, You would see grandparents on Tik Tok and FaceBook. This “Video Gaming-generation” living in a cyber world millions miles away from the Earth undoubtedly cannot play the role of an ideal grandmother. In our time, sometime ago, youth could be found to be marching to “Paththara Kade”, the educated could be found to be marching to libraries and students could be found to be queuing up at the school libraries.
However at present, from the dawn to the dusk youth are hooked on screens like heartless robots. Would you think that such a generation can narrate stories for their babies? Would you think that our Tik Tok Mallies and Tik Tok Nangies know poems and stories like our grandmothers?
Armed with profound knowledge, our grandmothers brightened our lives by nurturing our minds. A grandmother is a source of information as well as an abode of affection.
They possess an Indigenous knowledge with which they can make the use of nature and foretell the future challenges.
But sadly, our new generation said to be all-knowing pundits turn a deaf ear to their words. We have to accept that our grandparents are well informed and wise. In most developed countries, unlike Sri Lanka, youth value senior citizens’ knowledge and wisdom. Never do they think that their knowledge is stagnant.
As a woe-bearer
Would you find someone who can listen to you after your parents? These days we cannot rely on friends because they might share your secrets on social media platforms. The answer is grandmother.
Not only grandchildren but also relations and neighbours are seeking advice from their grandmother. A grandmother being a good listener, helps you to solve your problems in a positive manner. In addition, she strengthens the family bond by negotiating and giving advice.
It is significant to mention that a grandmother can renew human bonds. Who will be pouring medicines over the wounded hearts, if there emerge long pestering problems among family members? Yes, she is a grandmother.
We should not ignore our senior citizens’ knowledge. Being right thinking citizens we have to make the use of their knowledge for the betterment of the country.