I have always thought it was strange when I heard people sound so surprised when I talked about my great grandparents. They would say,“Your great grandmother is still alive?” I would look at them confused, as if having grandparents was something everyone was still blessed with. But, that is not the case. Unfortunately, more often than not, people respond with saying almost all, or with the exception of one, of their grandparents have passed.

Knowing that I have only lost one of my grandparents, but to still have four grandmothers, one great grandmother, and four grandfathers still alive and fully invested in my life, is a blessing. A blessing that I will never take for granted. For those of you who were naive like I was, we should realize just how grateful we are to still have even just one.

Not only are all of my grandparents attentive in my life and my sibling’s, but one of my grandparents allowed me to live with them. Although living with your grandparents does not sound like a glamorous thing to say at the age of 20, it has been one of the most self-rewarding experiences of my life.

Your grandparents have a different role in your life than your parents. They of course parent you, but it is a different kind of parenting than what your parents do. Your grandparents have experiences in their life that offer you this sense of wisdom from them when it comes to seeking advice. They are there to advise you and help you from making mistakes that they not only may have made themselves, but watched their children, your parents, make.

My grandparents have enriched my life in ways that I do not think would have been possible had I only the advisement of my parents. Although I am grateful for all that my parents have done for me, it would be wrong to not acknowledge my grandparents and their role in my life. Not only do I have as many grandparents as I do, but each and every one of them have invested so much of their time and energy into making sure that my siblings and I achieve our dreams, whatever they might be. I am so thankful for the encouragement and guidance that they have given me. And if you are blessed like I have been to have an overwhelming amount of grandparents in your life, do not forget to thank them for all it is they do in your life. Tell them you love them, take pictures with them, go on adventures with them, and make sure they know how much you appreciate them. Because one day, you are not going to be able to boast about having as many grandparents as you do in your life. One day they will be gone and all that will be left is a memory that you can cherish like no other.