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The History of Grandparents Day

National Grandparents Day is celebrated on September 8, 2019, but do you know where the holiday originated from?

Marian McQuade first brainstormed the idea of honoring the elderly with a “Grandparents Day,” which later became a nationally recognized holiday in 1978.

McQuade, the original founder of Grandparents Day, was the mother to 15 children, grandmother to 40, and great-grandmother to 15. With so many descendants, she was well aware of the special bond that children can have with their grandparents.

While mothers and fathers are the main source of nurturing in a child’s life, grandparents can have a profound effect on his or her upbringing. Without the wisdom of grandparents, children may not understand what it was like to grow up without the technology and amenities of today’s world — and might not appreciate what they have as much.

Another reason to celebrate our grandparents on Grandparents Day is because they can help raise us and shape us into the people we will become. With both parents entering the workforce in many more households, coupled with rising daycare costs, retired grandparents have become a dependable source of daily child care, meaning they can be much more prominent in children’s lives. While they’ve already raised a family of their own, many grandparents are willing and even eager to take part in their grandchildren’s care and development.

Grandparents are extraordinary people! They have stories to tell that expand our horizons and views of life, formed through years of experience.

Make sure to wish the grandparents in your life a Happy Grandparents Day!

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