By the time you read this, National Grandparents’ Day is a week behind us. This year, I almost missed it.
I have many reasons to love the holiday. One reason is that I enjoy thinking about my grandparents and the great memories I carry of them, the traditions they started that endure to this day and the guidance, patience and love they gave to me.
The second reason is I’m a grandma of three. Most years we spend some time with the grandkids (and their parents), just hanging out – and, of course, eating great food together.
The third reason is I work with some wonderful grandmas and grandpas at Area Agency on Aging.
For those who are wondering, this holiday didn’t start because some big group thought it would be nice to add it to a calendar. It started in the heart of a child. It was the wish of a 9-year-old boy named Russell Capper.
In 1969, Russell sent a letter to President Richard Nixon, and ask him to dedicate a day to grandparents. One of his secretaries replied to the letter, saying the president liked the idea, but they weren’t able to declare the day without a Congressional resolution.
On May 3, 1978, a resolution was passed to celebrate National Grandparents’ Day on the second Sunday in September.
Eight years later, West Virginia Sen. Jennings Randolph recruited senators to make Russell’s idea a reality. They introduced a joint resolution to the Senate, and on Aug. 3, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation that would make Grandparents’ Day a national observance each fall.
The first National Grandparents’ Day in the U.S. was celebrated on Sept. 10, 1978. Thank you, Russell Capper!
For the most part, my celebration of this holiday is a private one, except when it comes to the volunteers. For 16 years I have had the privilege of working in the Foster Grandparent Program through the Area Agency on Aging.
Foster Grandparents are amazing classroom mentors and role models throughout Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. Most years, these awesome seniors are celebrated at their schools and in their classrooms. Students and teachers make a big deal of the day, showering Grandmas and Grandpas with love, appreciation, cards and sweets.
But, as you know, the past couple years have been unique, and celebrating the Grandparents in the classroom has been difficult, if not impossible.
As a program, we have been trying to keep the school’s tradition and the student’s enthusiasm alive. We have reached out to the volunteers with monthly activity packs, we have had two drive-thru recognitions full of fun, laughter and gifts, and we are continually contacting them and making sure they have everything they need.
We know how essential our volunteers are, and we want to celebrate them anyway we can.
Whether they are grandparents by blood or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, grandparents have a wealth of affection, love and wisdom to give. They are the link to our past, and the events that have shaped our lives and the world around us.
I urge you to take some time to connect with them, go through some old photo albums, listen to their stories again, honor the struggles and joys they have lived through, and create and nurture a bond that crosses the generational divide.
Celebrate the fact that you have these wonderful, amazing and generous people in your life. Communicate with them, learn from them, care for them and treasure the time you have with them.
Don’t wait for a holiday.