By Raquel Daniels
GRANDcares Site Coordinator, Larimer County
September 8th is National Grandparents day!
Just like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, there is a day to celebrate
grandparents. Grandparents day was originally the idea of Marian Lucille
Herndon McQuade. She and her husband had 15 children, 43 grandchildren, 10
great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Her goal was to create a
day for families to come together where family members can take the opportunity
to honor their grandparents and for grandparents to show their love for their
grandchildren. This goal was put into fruition in 1978 when President Jimmy
Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day as Grandparents Day.
Grandparents day continues to be a day to connect with
generations. Grandparents provide much value to their families by providing continued
support, love and wisdom to younger generations. There is much strength and
guidance older people can impart to their grandchildren. While there are many
ways to celebrate Grandparents Day https://www.seniorliving.org/life/grandparents-day/ has several
ideas of how to spend it with your grandparent:
Create a Family Tree: Who better to ask about family
members and family history than grandparents? Hearing the history from a family
member is a great way to learn about where you come from.
Look through old photographs: Old photographs can
bring curious looks from younger children and spark fond memories from you. In
an age where everything is on screens, recovering old photos creates a
different experience to share with your grandchildren.
Tell a Story: Perhaps looking at photos would lead to
telling stories about a time from your past. There have been many changes over
the years in technology, economics, and other advances. Telling younger
children fond memories from your own childhood can be engaging for both of you.
Cook a recipe together: Many families have recipes
that are irreplaceable. Spending some time in the kitchen with Grandma or
Grandpa and learning a family recipe is a fun way to spend time together. It
passes on knowledge and you get to share a meal with someone you care about.
Happy Grandparents Day to all the Grandparents!
