The first Sunday after Labor Day is National Grandparents Day. Since 1978 when President Jimmy Carter proclaimed it to be celebrated, this day has not had the recognition that it should have.
It was started by Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County of West Virgina, who wanted to champion the cause of the lonely elderly in nursing homes.
First Time Grandparents
I, Publius Jr, visited with a friend and his wife this passed week. They were very happy as they went on to tell me their daughter is expecting on September 11th or 12th of this coming week. I said that it’s only fitting it’s National Grandparents Day this Sunday, September 10th. They hadn’t noticed the significance of the date. They have been married 35 years and this was the first time they are going to be grandparents. I suggested to record as much about themselves with their grandchild as possible because in the next 20 years of the child’s life anything could happen to them and it is beneficial to the child when they get older to be able to look back on fond memories of them.
Both sets of my grandparents were gone before I graduated high school, and I miss them.
Renew Your Connection on Grandparents Day
I’m surprised there isn’t more made of this holiday. You might hear of a variety of made up recognition days to promote some product, service, or condition, and yet Grandparents Day has been around since 1978 when President Jimmy Carter enacted the holiday.
Regardless of the lack of a hype it’s a great time to reconnect to your grandparents, or any elder who has watched you grow up, like an older neighbor. It’s time to return their interest in watching you grow up by contacting them by phone or in person. Especially on adverse weather days of excessive heat or cold, even on rainy or snowy days. Senior Citizens sometimes withdraw from society once they no longer have a paying job.
Call up your Grandparents as often as You Can
Grandparents are that life link to the past, that should never be forgotten. This year on September 10th, try to remember that life link to the past, your Grandparents. Call them up, they’ll be glad to hear from you even if it’s a week from now. They’ll appreciate hearing from you.