Grandparents Day - September 7th

The first Sunday after Labor Day is always Grandparents day in the United States. It all began in 1978, when Marian McQuade made it her challenge to educate the youth in the community regarding the significant contributions of what senior citizens have made over time. She encouraged young people to adopt a grandparent for a year and show them the appreciation, not in a materialistic way, but in a physical caring way that they well deserved, for their lifetime achievements. McQuade and her husband had 15 children and 40 grandchildren. McQuade actually lobbied for a national observance of Grandparents Day. So, in 1978, Congress passed a legislation to make the first Sunday after Labor Day - Grandparents Day.

Some Facts on Grandparents Day:

Official flower is the forget-me-not

Official song is "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" by Johnny Prill

There are 6.1 million grandparents whose grandchildren younger than 18 live with them.

There are 2.5 million grandparents responsible for most of the basic needs of one or more of the grandchildren who live with them.

There are 1.7 million grandparent-caregivers who are married.

There are 1.4 million grandparents who are in the labor force and also responsible for most of the basic needs of their grandchildren.

For more facts on grandparents, click "here."

Things to do with your Grandparents:

Play board games or cards

Share what is going on in your life with them

Take a walk with them even if it is around the block

Cook or bake with them

Go fishing with them

Quilt with them

Ask them questions about their youth and the family history

Interview them and create a family tree together

Go on a picnic with homemade food

Whatever their special talent is, do it with them

Just talk to them

Gifts to give to Grandma and Grandpa

Favorite body lotions or colognes

If you live far away, do a video for of the family so they can play it over and over again

Either buy a CD of their favorite songs or create your own music playlist

If they have a favorite city or town that has created memories for them, create a scrapbook of pictures and facts about it

Create an updated family scrapbook

Create a bouquet of their favorite flowers

If they love to garden, focus on gifts to make it easier to garden

Create a poem or story about what they mean to you

Cook for them their favorite meal (don't worry if it isn't as good as Grandma - the effort alone will bring tears to their eyes)

Find an old newspaper or magazine during the period when they were courting and give it to them as a gift. You can find gifts like this on the Internet.

Crossword puzzles or any game that they can play by themselves

Take all the above and create one big gift basket

You know, we really just shouldn't have one day for Grandparents Day. Just like Mother's and Father's Day, we should always be grateful daily for our family and never take them for granted because one day, they won't be here. The important thing is to create happy moments; because every happy moment will eventually become a memory that lasts forever.