Celebrating Our Grandparents

Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Papa, MyMy, Pop-Pop, the names given to our parents from the mouths of our babes, could go on forever!  I don’t know about you, but watching my Parents become grandparents and my Grandma become a Great, has become one of the greatest treasures in my life.  My little one has an abundance of grandparents and “adopted” grandparents who dote on her and and it is pure joy etched across her face when she gets to see them.  If your little ones are lucky enough to have a few grandparents of their own or even a few adopted grandparents,  let’s take some time out to honor them this September 10th, on Grandparents Day.

What is Grandparents Day?  Here’s a little history:

National Grandparents Day falls each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. . It was initiated at the grassroots level by West Virginian Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, with the behind-the-scenes support of her husband Joseph L. McQuade. They had 15 children, 43 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Mrs. McQuade wanted Grandparents Day to be a family day. She envisioned families enjoying small, private gatherings, perhaps even a family reunion, or participating in community events. On a societal level, National Grandparents Day gives us a chance to publicly affirm the identity and importance of grandparents, that they do play a vital role in families. It is also a day of giving – giving of self; sharing hopes, dreams, and values; and setting an example and advocating for future generations.

There are three purposes for National Grandparents Day:

  1. To honor grandparents.

  2. To give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children.

  3. To help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.

So, how do we honor the Grands in Our life? Start off by asking your kiddos!  They might have a few ideas of how they would like to show their love and admiration for their Grandparents, but if you need a few ideas, here’s a short list of activities you can discuss as a family:

*Have your children create cards and send them the old fashioned way!
*Take the grands out for a picnic or have THEM over for dinner!  
*Send flowers or deliver them yourself!
*If their across country, Facetime, Snapchat, Call them!  Just let them know your thinking of them!
*Have your children pick out small gifts, something THEY think their grands would like.
*Pinterest is FULL of ideas-IF you want to get crafty.
*Bake your elderly neighbors some cookies and have the kiddos deliver them!

                                          Tell us how YOU will celebrate the elders in your life!

Kassandra
Born and raised in Omaha, Kassandra has a heart for her city and loves that she can call it home. After ten years battling infertility, she and her husband of 14 years, Nicholas, have a beautiful feisty little firecracker named Eloise (2015). Kassandra formerly taught preschool for 15 years and decided to leave teaching in a school setting to help her friend start up "The Wonder Nook" (a space of creativity and wonderment for all ages) When time allows it, you will more than likely find Kassandra somewhere writing, dreaming, doing.

1 COMMENT

  1. We made a picture frame one time where the kiddos held up signs that had the thing they loved the most about their grandma. They said the cutest things, and it is one of my mom’s most treasured pieces. I agree that seeing my parents as grandparents is the sweetest thing.

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