Have you had close relationships with grandparents or other elders during your life? What memories come to mind when you think of them?
In “Constancy in Candy,” a reader-submitted story to the Tiny Love Stories column, Samantha Facciolo writes about her grandmother:
My grandmother kept a candy bowl on a table by her front door. Growing up, I would sneak butterscotches and strawberry sweets. During the pandemic, my grandmother moved into assisted living. On my first visit after lockdown, I saw how much of her 90-year life she had discarded to fit into her new residence. Yet, she’d saved the familiar bowl. Driving home, I discovered that she’d slipped its candy into my purse. Years before, when I had confessed my childhood thievery, she laughed. “Why do you think I kept it on that low table? It’s always been for you.”
Students, tell us:
Do you have, or have you had, a close connection with a grandparent or an elder? What is, or was, your relationship like?
What do you think makes relationships with people from a different generation unique?
What is one item, like the candy bowl belonging to Ms. Facciolo’s grandmother, that reminds you of this person?
What is one special memory you have with this person?
Bonus: Write a story of no more than 100 words about a grandparent or an elder who has been a part of your life. Post it in the comments, or submit it to Tiny Love Stories.
Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
