Hello, party Pandas! Hope you’re all doing well since the last time we’ve seen each other. But let me ask you this - when’s the last time you had a sleepover at your grandparents’?
Most of us associate the term ‘sleepover’ with a raging party at a friend’s house, pillows and feathers flying everywhere, a mediocre film on in the background, whilst we stuff our faces full of marshmallows and pizza or marshmallow pizza. Hey, I don’t judge! But sleepovers don’t have to be a thing of the past, especially when we consider the story that I’m bringing to y'all today.
A grandpa invited his granddaughter to a sleepover as he’d been feeling lonely and, of course, she obliged! As per usual, grab the tissues. I tend to consider myself a hard shell to crack, but oh boy… I’d be lying if I said this didn’t tickle the emotional bone in my body.
Make sure to leave your thoughts below, upvote the story so that I can continue bringing happy things to you, and maybe give me a follow. Doesn’t cost a thing to make a random person on the internets happy! Enough rambling, let's dive into the story!
More info: TikTok
Not many grandparents ask their grandkids to come for a sleepover on any given day, but when they do...
Image credits: mevanhoy
Megan Elizabeth has had a fantastic relationship with her grandparents ever since she was a child. Countless days in their loving company, many great memories made. Sadly, things aren't always fantastic, as after the loss of his wife a few years ago, the 92-year-old grandpa had been feeling rather lonely.
His granddaughter shared a chat they had via text on her TikTok and Instagram accounts. Apparently, he’d been feeling under the weather, crying on the phone during one of their calls. Then one night he texted to ask if she’d like to come over for a sleepover at his house, saying “I haven’t been feeling well and miss you. We can order food and watch a mystery show. Love, grandpa.”
Megan shared the texts between her and her grandpa, explaining that he'd been feeling lonely and crying over the phone
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
She said in the caption that his health has been declining, so she takes any and all opportunities to see him. Thus, without further ado, she jumped in her car and drove to KFC as well as a grocery store to pick up some snacks.
Her grandpa had some requests: “Could you pick up applesauce? The cinnamon kind. And if you go somewhere with mash potatoes, I would like that because I have no teeth and can only eat soft things. Ha!”
He later added strawberry ice cream to the little list and, honestly, can’t blame him! Strawberry ice cream is pretty darn amazing! Especially shared with someone you love, but I digress.
He asked her if she'd like to come over for a sleepover and she excitedly agreed, offering to bring snacks and treats, to which he happily obliged
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
He finished the chat, saying "thank you. You are my favorite granddaughter", adding in a little request for ice cream as well
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
Grandpa ended the messages saying, “thank you. You are my favorite granddaughter.” Megan laughed that she’s his only granddaughter but, regardless of that little fact, it’s still very sweet.
She arrived bearing gifts of everything he’d asked for and they spent the evening enjoying the ice cream, and even more so, each other’s company. They watched her grandpa’s favorite black and white mystery show before heading off to bed.
Shortly after, Megan brought KFC, applesauce and ice cream for them to enjoy whilst they watched a murder mystery show
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
After the show finished, grandpa led her to the bedroom, which he made up in the same way as he used to when she was little
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
If you thought everything beforehand was sweet, then wait till you read this, my Pandas. Grandpa made sure Megan had a glass of water by her bed just in case she got thirsty. She noticed that “he made my bed how he used to make it, when I was little with my favorite doll of my grandma's (rest in peace). And gave me a flashlight ‘in case I got scared’.”
The video finished with her laying in bed, getting emotional, the captions saying: “Staying here brings back so many good memories from my childhood. I love my grandpa so much!”
He also gave her a flashlight, just in case she got scared; the video finishing with Megan saying "I love my grandpa so much"
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
She had to leave early in the morning to go to work, yet he could not let her go without waving goodbye
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
A follow-up video came soon after, with her in the car, the caption stating: “I had to work at 5:30AM and he got up to wave goodbye to me and wish me a good day.” If that’s not pure love, I don’t know what is.
Megan shared some of her family's backstory on her Instagram, saying she's very lucky to have grown up with her grandparents
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
Megan gave us a little bit of backstory in her Instagram post. She grew up very close to her grandparents, having lived with them for a little while as her family couldn’t immediately afford a place on their own. Once they did, they moved across the street from her grandparents. She said, “I am so lucky to have grown up with my grandpa and my grandma (rest in peace).”
What makes Megan happy is the fact that very little has changed since she was little. She stayed in the same room she grew up in with her 2 brothers. The grandparents would always offer them ice cream, just as the pair had that night. Her grandpa made the bed in the same way he always did.
She was always jealous of that doll growing up, but now it’s become a symbol of her relationship with her grandparents. Megan said: “I feel so happy. I am thankful for my grandpa and he will never understand how much love he truly has shown me. And more importantly, the love he showed my grandma while she was alive. I believe in love and loyalty because of this man. He is my hero.”
Sadly, her grandmother passed away a few years ago from Alzheimer's, but the love and devotion she saw shared between the grandparents is one to remember and cherish
Image credits: mevanhoy
Her grandma passed away a few years ago from Alzheimer’s. The pair met in an unlikely twist of circumstance as her grandma’s friend was too scared to go on a date alone, thus she invited grandma, and her date invited Megan’s grandpa.
Neither of them wanted to go, but they did so in annoyance. Thankfully, it turned out to be one of the best decisions they’d ever made. They clicked, communicated via letters and once grandpa returned from the Air Force, they got married and had 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
Her grandma loved Christmas, so they decided to plant a little pine tree in her honor. Megan got a tattoo of one, her grandpa drawing a star on it each festive season
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
As grandma’s Alzheimer’s worsened and she forgot a lot of things, there was one thing that remained constant - her love for Christmas. Therefore, in her honor, they planted a beautiful pine tree, which they decorate every year. In one TikTok, Megan wrote a little letter for her grandma and left an ornament on the tree for her to find and enjoy in her own time.
The love this family shares with each other is truly palpable. Megan’s 254.8k followers have felt it too and have been enjoying her interactions and close relationship with her grandpa.
The videos shared on her TikTok and Instagram pages inspire us all to look to the people in our lives and give them the time and love they deserve
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
Even if you've not been close to your grandparents or have not been able to know them, there are ways to make a difference in someone's life
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
I wrote a story recently, very similar to this, as an elderly man had succumbed to loneliness and existential thoughts until he was asked by a neighbor to babysit his 3 pets. Their unconditional love had sparked a new lease on life into the man, encouraging him to adopt 2 dogs of his own. You can read more about it here, but it once again drives home the fact that company and a feeling of purpose are so important in one’s life.
I don’t know about you, but there’s something incredibly heartbreaking to see/hear your grandparents crying or in distress. If one visit, phone call, hug or chat can prevent it, then I don’t know what we’re waiting for.
For those who’ve never known their grandparents or haven’t had good relationships with them, it may feel like a missed opportunity, but, even if it’s not the same, you can volunteer at an elderly people’s home and it often happens that they start treating you as family.
Not only will you be providing them with companionship, it may also help bridge a generational gap. Here are some tips to get started! And for those of us who’ve lost our grandparents, we can recollect on the good times with them, holding their memory fondly in our hearts.
We wish all the best for Megan and her grandpa, hoping for many more sunny days ahead and lots more sleepovers!
Image credits: meganelizabeth1016
It is a privilege of sorts to live to an old age and even more so when you have people that care deeply for you. We never know when it’s going to be our time to leave, so to say, and to be able to share each day and moment with someone that brings us joy, cherishing it like it’s your last, is something that we take for granted a lot of times. Whether we’re young or old, let’s spread some joy to one another, some care, some attention.
We wish Megan and her grandpa a lot more sunny days and many sleepovers together. If you need any murder mystery documentary recommendations, let me know!
You can watch the full video of their sleepover here
Leave your thoughts in the comments, I can't wait to read them. Thanks so much for spending the time with me and this little article, hope you have a lovely day or night ahead!
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