By Leila Balsiger
My grandmother, Kathleen Balsiger, has 12 grandchildren. When I am asked why I think my grandma should be the AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the Year may reasons pile up in my head. Although I would happily list all of those reasons, I would not have the time to do so. I have decided on three reasons to give in this essay. Grandma loves to give us life lessons and she encourages us to have good education. Some grandparents show their love to their grandchildren with presents or gifts, but my grandma shows us her love with her hugs, with her kisses, and even with her snuggles. She is one of the most comforting people I have ever met. She also strives to be positive all of the time and never lets us down.
Grandma has been retired for 8 years but she still substitutes for teachers who need it. My grandma loves to teach, obviously for her students but also for her kids and her grandchildren. She even loves to teach simple life lessons even if it is just how or which way to wash the table. Her favorite thing to do is teach us what she loves to do including knitting and crocheting. Another thing she loves to do is cooking and baking, but her favorite thing to do is teach others.
When I was asked to write this essay I was super nervous because I thought that it would be hard and that I wouldn’t get it done in time but when I really thought about it lots of ideas came to my mind. One of those reasons I think my grandma should be the AARP South Dakota Grandparent of the Year is that my grandma doesn’t spoil us, not with gifts or presents but there is one thing that all grandparents should spoil their kids or grandkids with and she does. That thing is love. She loves us so much that she loves us “to the moon and back a thousand times” she always says. She showers us with so many kisses! In my opinion, she is one of the most loving grandmas ever!
My grandma is always trying to be positive. At my basketball tournament in the Black Hills last year, we won two games and lost one. The whole team was very disappointed because our goal was to win every game that season. When we have to go back to our parents or grandparents, I was really bummed but as soon as we got there, my grandma congratulated me on my wins but I just said “thanks” and dropped down on the bleachers. She asked why I was sad so I told her and then she said that we played great defense and told me that it was the best game that she had ever seen which really cheered me up! My grandma can find the good in anything!
Most kids get clothes or gifts from their grandparents but we get life lessons that will last us the rest of our yeas. I am sure that my cousins and my brothers and sisters can all agree. Our grandma is very important to us and in our lives. Grandma encourages us to do the best we can do. For those reasons, I think my grandma, Kathleen Balsiger, should be the AARP Grandparent of the Year.
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