Grandparent’s Day is Sunday, September 10. FYI. Although it is one of those observances that need not be celebrated ON the day, but at anytime during the year.
A woman named Marian MaQuade hoped for a day to honor grandparents, and in 1978 President Jimmy Carter declared that the first Sunday after Labor Day be Grandparent’s Day. As recently as 2012, President Obama proclaimed the “wonderful contributions grandparents make to our lives”.
Fun fact. Grandparent’s Day has an official flower – the Forget-Me-Not. Johnny Prill wrote the official song for the special day, “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa”. Check it out on YouTube.
Looking for these fun facts led the search to another grandparent related song by Kenny Chesney called “Grandpa Told Me So”. This is also on YouTube.
Speaking of grandparent related songs, for many years as Frankfort Schools celebrated Grandparent’s Day with the students, The Judds had a song that was played simply titled “Grandpa”. That particular song became a little less uplifting as the years went by. Give it a listen and give me your opinion.
Grandparents are usually the ones that introduce stories, reading, and books to their grandchildren. Parents are so busy with jobs, running the household, outside activities, and being exhausted at the end of the day, that reading seems far from part of the daily routine.
My Grandma Nanny read the Mother Goose nursery rhymes, and many, many Little Golden Books to me growing up. They were always in that special basket in her breezeway. Her lap was my chair of choice.
Being first time grandparents for two years now, I hope we’re those grandparents that instill a love of reading to little Kaden. Right now, board books with tractors, hay bales, and neigh, neighs seem to be the trend, but I see Tip and Mitten, The Three Pigs, The Little Engine That Could, The Cat in the Hat, The Ugly Duckling, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie……sorry, I have to go and dig these out!
My grandson asked me how old I was.
“I’m not sure,” I teasingly said.
“Look in your underwear, Grandma,” he advised. “Mine says I’m 4 to 6”.
Happy Grandparent’s Day!