Six life lessons from my babushkas

It’s International Women’s Day and I find myself once again thinking about my late babushkas (grandmas) who passed away a few years ago. In honor of their story, resurfacing their eulogy and what it’s taught me.

Lesson 1: Life doesn’t always go as expected

Babushka Maria was born in what was once called Chekoslovakia, where Slovakia and Czech Republic are today. When she was young, her parents went to France anticipating her joining them, but thanks to WWII, that didn’t work out. They came back, deciding instead to move to Ukraine with their daughter, with high hopes of it being just as lovely as Paris. It wasn’t.

Lesson 2: Don’t put up with anyone’s bullshit

Maria ended up being hitched via a pre-arranged marriage which (was common then). He wasn’t a good husband. In fact, he mistreated her. But she didn’t put up with it. Instead she raised their three daughters on her own, in the middle of the Soviet era and would not let her daughters repeat that cycle of abuse. She raised them strong and steered them toward boys that respected them. Toward those who she felt would be good fathers to her grandbabies one day. She was soft spoken, but she was a warrior. And it worked. To this day, my mom reminds me of how thankful I should be for having a great father.

Babushka Maria’s life is a testimony to all the girls that you deserve a great partner in your life. And if you don’t have a great partner, you can be great solo. Her story is also a testimony to all the boys that a girl can be great with or without you, so you need to rise to the occasion.

Lesson 3: Believe

The lessons don’t stop here. Next we have Babushka Nadia. She was one of four girls and a pastor’s kid. This came with its own set of challenges given faith was persecuted back in the Soviet Union. That didn’t faze her. She stayed strong and steadfast in her faith. It is because of her that we were able to gain asylum in the US.

Grandma Nadia’s life is a testament for us to stand up for what we believe, even if it’s uncomfortable.

Lesson 4: Successful relationships take many forms

In Babushka Nadia’s memorial eulogy, I referred to her relationship with my grandpa to that of a quote…