Make A Plan to Celebrate the Grandparents in Your Life

By Rana DiOrio, Founder, Little Pickle Press

We all know that Mother's Day is in May and Father's Day is in June, but do you know when Grandparents' Day is? I didn’t until this week. It is the first Sunday after Labor Day—September 12 this year. While I am always reticent to celebrate anything that smacks of a “Hallmark Holiday,” I believe that Grandparents deserve to be honored, and this holiday enjoys other roots.

Grandparents' Day was conceived by Marian McQuade, a West Virginia resident and proud parent of 15 children. McQuade has dedicated her life to advocating for senior citizens, having served as President of the Vocational Rehabilitation Foundation, Vice President of the West Virginia Health Systems Agency, and Co-Chairman for the Bicentennial Centenarian Search for the West Virginia Commission on Aging. In 1970, McQuade initiated a campaign to set aside a special day to honor grandparents.

Due in large part to the efforts of civic, business, religious, and political leaders in West Virginia, Governor Arch Moore proclaimed the first Grandparents' Day in 1973. During the same year, Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) introduced a Grandparents' Day resolution in the United States Senate. To garner support for the resolution, McQuade and her team contacted the media and government officials in each state and sent letters to churches, businesses, and wide variety of national organizations whose members advocate for senior citizens.

All their hard work finally paid off in 1978. Five years after its inception in West Virginia, Congress passed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents' Day. Congress chose September for the holiday to signify the "autumn years" of life, and President Jimmy signed the bill into law. According to the statute’s preamble, the purpose of Grandparents' Day is "to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer."

This Grandparents’ Day, we will be celebrating with my children’s Grandmother, Grandfather, Grandma, and Grandpa (see pictures!). We’ve made a reservation for all of us at a picnic table and sand box kind of place. Should be great fun. Make a plan to celebrate the grandparents in your life this Sunday, September 12!

Grandma, Grandmother, and Grandpa cooling off

on a hot 4th of July in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard.

Grandfather with Ryan and Alex in an eco-friendly,

Oak Bluffs pedicab during the 4th of July parade!