Sunday September 13 is National Grandparents’ Day!
There is a wonderful quote by Sam Levenson that says, “The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy.” And although we say that in jest, and the extent of that truth varies from family to family, there is no denying the special bond between grandparent and grandchild. So on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we honor one of our greatest allies on Grandparents’ Day.
History of Grandparents’ Day
Grandparents’ Day is a national holiday that began in 1978. Many other countries and cultures celebrate a similar holiday during different times of the year. Grandparents’ Day was started in the United States by a woman named Marian McQuade who dedicated her life to serving the senior population and served on the West Virginia Commission on Aging and the Nursing Home Licensing Board. Her goal was to educate the youth in the community about the important contribution that seniors have made in society.
Celebrating Grandparents’ Day
There are many ways to show our love and appreciation on Grandparents’ Day. Of course a visit and/or phone call go so far in the hearts of our loved ones. When we get the chance we can even engage in playful storytelling to bridge the gap between the past and present. Here is a wonderful list of “interview” questions that are sure to start an interestingly wonderful conversation:
Often times our grandparents are our only link to a time long ago. Going through photo albums to identify and date photos is also a great activity and can double up as a memory game! Reconstructing or creating a family tree brings together different generations and can teach grandchildren more about their lineage.
As we may celebrate this special day for these special people, we can also remember and keep in our hearts those grandparents and elderly who are unable to spend time with their families or no longer have their families with them. It was the wish of the founder of Grandparents’ Day, Marian McQuade for people to adopt a grandparent not just for the day, but for life.
This Sunday, if you have the opportunity, visit senior organizations and homes in your community to honor and appreciation our elderly for the strength, information, wisdom they have given to us.
