11 Things Grandparents Must Have in the House At All Times

It’s your porch chairs, your squeaky screened door, and your old kitchen table. It’s your voices, your scent, and your clothing. In reality, it’s hundreds of small things that leave a huge imprint on young hearts. Yes, the “must haves” in a grandparent’s home are more than mere things. They represent love and belonging and they serve as the anchor and mainstay of your grandchildren’s childhood. Here’s a list of some essentials grandparents must have in their house at all times. They will leave bigger impressions than you’ll ever know.

Hugs

When I was young, my grandparents were light years away from the cell phone era. Nevertheless, they had a wonderful ETA instinct. I have memories of my grandma and grandpa forever stepping out onto their porch when our family car pulled into the driveway. When I got out and ran to greet them, the lilt in my grandma’s voice as she spoke my name in greeting warms my heart to this day. Grandpa was a big hugger. He gave them every morning, evening, and in between. He even tried to hug Grandma—who would shoo him away and give him a loving reprimand. I still smile at his precocious manner and his boyish sweetness. Hugs are important. There’s a quote that goes,  “A hug communicates a thousand words.” I learned this basic truth from an early age. Every grandparent needs to keep a sizable stash of hugs at their house.

Cookies

Grandma had an earthenware cookie jar on her kitchen counter. It was my favorite destination after our greeting. I knew that freshly made chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies were inside the jar. Those cookies were almost as special to my stay as the hug that preceded them. As the years passed, Grandma kept her tradition. Even when I visited during college, Grandma had fresh cookies awaiting my arrival. Grandma’s cookies were ambassadors. They represented greetings and the kind of peace that comes with a loving routine. My mother-in-law is a consummate baker. She can bake intricate cakes and make fudge that rivals any other I have tasted. Brownies have always been her staple. In her 7th decade of life, she began making cookies. In fact, she asked me for a cookie jar just this Christmas. Of all the gifts I gave her, it was my favorite. It’s never too late to add a “must-have” to your house. 

Ice Cream

Grandparents should keep a supply of ice cream in their freezer at all times. My grandparents certainly did. My grandfather’s favorite bedtime treat was to make ice cream floats for his grandchildren. He used Neapolitan ice cream and Coca-Cola. My sister and I would sit at their kitchen counter on our stools and enjoy our foamy dessert as my grandparents watched. Ice cream was also served as dessert after our dinner. Typically it accompanied fresh berries in the summer or pie in the winter. Ice cream is always a treat!

Art Supplies

When it comes to art supplies, it can be as simple as a box of 64 Crayola Crayons and a ream of copier paper. Young grands aren’t picky when it comes to creativity. I used to draw pictures of the house, trees, flowers, garden, and horses that were all a part of my grandparent’s farm. Most of the work I created I bequeathed to my grandparents…a loving gift for the two people who were larger than life in my little world. My grandparents showed sincere enthusiasm for my artistry. If you want an expression of love from your grands, keep art supplies in the house. A pencil and a notebook will do.

Fridge Magnets

My grandparents had a collection of fridge magnets from the places they had traveled. These rubberized souvenirs did more than serve as a reminder of a nice vacation. They were magnetic frames that held the creative masterpieces of their grandchildren. Each picture was dated and a name was ascribed. When I married, my grandmother sent me a manilla folder filled with my juvenile artistry. Knowing that she had not thrown my scribbles and scrawls away gave me almost as good of a feeling as the young pride I felt as I watched her hang my artwork on her fridge decades earlier. Fridge magnets are a must-have in a grandparent’s home.

Chores and Traditions

My grandparents were busy people. They owned approximately one hundred acres of land when I was born. My grandfather and uncle cut hay several times during the summer and I rode on the hay wagon while empty and when full. They also had horses which I helped feed and, later, learned to ride. At the age of eight, I was allowed to mow their front yard with their Wheelhorse riding mower. In berry season, Grandpa took me to pick blackberries and raspberries for Grandma’s summer preserves. We shucked corn from Grandpa’s garden for dinner. We even helped Grandpa find a Christmas tree when he had his tree farm. We set the table for Grandma and used her red transfer dishes. At Christmas, my British grandmother made fruit cakes for family and friends and flaming Christmas pudding. As busy as they were, they always included their grandchildren in their day. And nobody knew how to make a farm fun like my grandfather. What should have been work was broken up by picnics, trips to the brook, and hikes to the mountaintop. I looked forward to every season at my grandparents’ farm. Every grandparents’ house should be filled with chores and traditions. When carried out with love, they make wonderful memories.

First Aid Supplies

My grandmother might have retired from teaching, but I was convinced she might have interned as a doctor. We were given a spoonful of cod liver oil each morning (I was never sure why until years later). She was a genius at painless splinter removal. She would use her tweezers and her heated needle and tell me to close my eyes. Styes were not a problem for Grandma. She had a glass eyecup which she filled with salt and applied to my eye several times per day. It worked like a charm. She had a baking soda poultice for bee stings and Vicks Rub for chest colds. If you name it, she could ward it off or cure it. First Aid supplies were must-haves in Grandma’s medicine cabinet. 

Games and Toys

One of the first games I learned to play was Chinese Checkers. It was one of Grandpa’s favorite games. He was a master of strategy. My grandmother’s favorite game was Scrabble. As I grew older, I learned the love of the game of words. I now play with our adult children. My grandmother also loved to play croquet. Her yard was perfect for the game. It is another game I played as a result of her. Besides games, my grandparents had toys for us to play with. Many were my mother’s and uncle’s childhood toys. Grandma kept a toy chest in the dining room. She also redecorated her own childhood dollhouse that her skilled father had built. The dollhouse had real glass windows and doors that opened and closed on tiny hinges. Grandma used leftover carpet and flooring from her own house and bought 1970s wallpaper for the tiny walls. It was an act of love for my sister and me. Grandma and Grandpa kept such a vast assortment of toys and games at their house, that I don’t have a single childhood memory of being bored. 

Camera and Albums

Both of my grandparents were historians. Many times after dinner, Grandpa would tell us about his childhood on the farm he inherited, when it was still a dairy. Sometimes, he would get out his childhood albums. My grandmother was also a historian, albeit different from Grandpa. Grandma was our pictorial historian. She took pictures and wrote dates and names on them from the time I was born. In fact, she took so many pictures of our days spent on the farm that she invested in a slide projector. We would have special evenings dedicated to a slide show of our summer or our autumn. These occasions were special and were usually accompanied by popcorn during the show. Many of my childhood memories were beautifully preserved by Grandma. I don’t know how much more special we could feel when there were evenings devoted to viewing our time spent with Grandma and Grandpa. Cameras and albums were a natural must-have at my Grandparent’s house. 

Books

My grandparents loved books. So much so that they had an actual dark-paneled library in their large farmhouse. It was one of my favorite rooms. They were contributing authors to a book about the history of their town. Grandma gave me a copy of the book when I reached adulthood. Books also had a special place in the bedroom where my sister and I slept. Grandma was an English teacher and was passionate about reading to her grandchildren before bed. My grandfather read to us before naptime. The books they introduced to me in my formative years are much the same as the ones I introduced to my own children.    

Prayers

Prayers were a must-have in my grandparent’s house. Grandpa prayed before every meal. I still know that prayer by heart. It dwells there. I was led and taught to pray at bedtime. Hanging over my sister and my twin beds were pictures of two praying children. In fact, the first book I remember my grandmother reading to me at bedtime was The Little Golden Book of Prayers. When I grew older and found faith of my own, I knew that its roots were tied to the two people who had devoted so much of their life and love to me. 

No young life should be without loving and involved grandparents. I still think of them and lift a prayer of gratitude. The things I experienced under the shelter of their roof shaped my formative years and greatly contributed to who I am today.