Nan, Grandma, Grandmother, A second mother

grand·moth·er 

n.

1. The mother of one's father or mother.

2. A female ancestor.

A few months ago I was scrolling down twitter and came across Elle Magazine's tweet about an article on their website called A tribute to inspirational women. A book was mentioned which was titled 'My Other Mother', upon reading this many of the staff at Elle Magazine felt inspired to share treasured memories of their own grandmothers.

As soon as I began reading the memoirs of these women and their connection with their grandmothers I felt compelled to write about my own grandmother.

I do not call Janet by the title Grandmother I much prefer Nan instead and so does she, it's a preference we both agree on. She is roughly 5'3 but transmits the positivity of a BT Tower. Before I even existed my nan had already dealt with much more grief than most women at the age of 45, she had lost her son. My uncle Dennis was 20 when he died in a freak accident which occurred in Germany, he was practising in the Army. I cannot imagine the pain and grief  that has tormented with my Nan's emotions, your children are never supposed to die before you. Ever. They are meant to carry on your genes and blood, they are your legacy. Someone you have loved and nurtured from a boy to a man to then be cruelly snatched away from you must be one of the most difficult things to deal with. Just a few years before this tragic event my nan's very own mother had bowel cancer, as she attempted to battle her illness my nan took it upon her as the eldest of her siblings to move in with my great grandmother and nursed her right until the day she died.

It really does baffle me how my nan copes so well when she is faced with some of the most awful things but this is why I admire her the most. I idolise my nan because she deals with grief so well, she stands up to it, she takes it on and battles it. She always wins with her positivity. I will never know how she rises above it so much especially with such ease. She has this great enthusiasm for life and just constantly keeps on going while being fuelled by tea.

I believe her approach to life is something many of us should take on, most of us including myself are so negative about the tiniest of things yet my nan who has these battle scars is happier than the majority. Despite losing my Grandad in 2004 to a very rapid and aggressive form of bowel cancer, she still took it on in her stride and continued life with her positive approach. She treasures her memories with him and talks about him so fondly and lovingly and not once is a tear seen.

I have never met anyone like this lady and i am incredibly proud to call this extraordinary human being my nan.

here is a link to the article itself A tribute to inspirational women