Julia Sanchez Just Wants Them To Be Happy

Julia Sanchez laughs as she explains why she is cooking a second dinner.

"I already cooked for the kids, now I'm cooking for my husband," she said. "He won't eat what the kids eat some times."

A mother to four, Sanchez remembers what it was like to become a grandparent - 18 years ago.

"I was delighted when I first saw my granddaughter, Leticia," she said. "I felt this love - something wrapped around both of us. I fell in love with her like there is no tomorrow."

Sanchez the feeling returned 17 more times.

"(The feeling) doesn't change at all when you have more grandchildren," she said. "You just have more that you have to spread your love to. There is nothing I wouldn't do for any of my grandkids."

Today, Sanchez has 21 grandkids counting three step-grandchildren. The kids range in age from 9 months to 18. She and her husband are raising eight of them.

When asked what the hardest part and best part about being a grandparent, she said "love".

"The hardest part is loving them so much when you see them suffer - it destroys you little by little seeing the things they go through in life," she said. "The best part is them always loving me. The little things they do sometimes: when they want a hug or a kiss, when I see their little faces. When I see they are happy to see me."

One of her grandsons always tells her good morning, goodnight and tells her to have a nice day.

"We chat and send each other all kinds of little messages to remind us how we love each other," she said.

Sanchez enjoys seeing their individual accomplishments.

"When they come home happy," she said. "One of my granddaughters wrestled in a tournament and she only lost one match - she did awesome. Seeing them all happy - that's all I ask - I just want them to be happy."

Sanchez feels after being mom, she has learned a lot that helps her as a grandmother.

"I learned from my mistakes," she said. "I also worked for Early Headstart - they are wonderful about teaching about kids. I know I won't do the same mistakes I made with my kids with my grandkids."

That advice is what she also says would be good for other parents and grandparents.

"Everybody makes mistakes," Sanchez said. "You need to learn from them."

Her wish for her grandkids is that they succeed.

"I want them to succeed in life if they want to do something, I want them to be able to do it," she said. "I don't want them to do the same mistakes their parents or I did. I want them to believe in themselves, where if they are wanting to succeed in life they are able to. I don't want them to give up on their dreams. They should leave the past that has hurt them where it belongs and think of a better future. I don't want them to let their past ruin them."