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Celebrating Grandparents' Day: A Dedication of Love and Care

We observe Grandparents' Day as a family holiday dedicated to honoring the special bond we have for two of the dearest people in our lives, our grandparents. Contrary to common perception, they are likely to be more positive than negative now that they are in their twilight years. To make Grandparents' Day truly a day they can cherish, try these simple and heart-warming suggestions.

Author: Felicity Maris Modesto
Date: Sep 1, 2009 - 5:14:07 PM

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When Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West Virginian housewife, first initiated a campaign to set aside a special day dedicated to grandparents in 1970, her benevolent intention was spurred by her lifelong dedication of advocating to elderly citizens. With help from civic, business, church, and political leaders, particularly Senator Jennings Randolph, who played a crucial role, her campaign has spread throughout the country. Eight years later, in 1978, her campaign reached fruition(three years after its commencement in West Virginia) with the announcement of the national observance of Grandparents' Day during the second Sunday following Labor Day in September—the autumn month specifically selected to signify the autumn years of life. Today, we observe Grandparents' Day as a family holiday dedicated to honoring the special bond we have for two of the dearest people in our lives, our grandparents.

In their twilight years

After several years of having lived the fullness of their lives, our grandparents have reached the age where they find themselves growing weaker as they step into their twilight years. Although it is reasonable to feel lonely and neglected during this time of their life, with their children busy with their own families, psychological studies have shown that despite their emotional vulnerability, they are likely to be happier at their age compared to younger people. This belies the common image we associate with seniors which is that of a crotchety and depressive individual.

Research shows that people's negative traits lessen with age. This is heightened should the concerned seniors prove to be outgoing in terms of their lifestyle. Hence, aging does not mean deteriorating emotionally, meaning that people do not become more pessimistic and irate the older they get. On the contrary, because old people are aware of the limited time they have remaining, the tendency is for them to direct their attention to positive thoughts, activities, and treasured happy memories.

Making Grandparents' Day truly special

Speaking of happy memories, there is no better time to make our grandparents feel loved and cared for than on Grandparents' Day. Although it is given that our affection and support remain constant regardless of any occasion, marking this day by dedicating our full time and attention to making them feel special and loved turns this event into a most memorable and heart-warming experience we can all treasure. But do not be misled into thinking that this implies throwing fancy parties or making elaborate presentations. Reaching the autumn of their lives, our grandparents can never be duped by appearances anymore. They know all too well that matters which are truly important in life cannot be defined through pricey gifts, expensive parties, or any material things alone. To help come up with simple yet memorable ways to make Grandparents' Day a valuable memory worth keeping and sharing, you can try any or all of these suggestions:

• Cook them their favorite dishes and have dinner or lunch together.

• Take them down a trip to memory lane by playing their favorite songs and dancing with them. If they are not inclined to dance for whatever reason, you can sing with them instead or just enjoy the music with them by your side.

• Take them on a picnic to the place where they used to have picnics with their children(your parents, aunts, or uncles) during their younger years.

• Gather old pictures and make a photo collage especially for them.

• Give them a present box or gift basket containing a cornucopia of their favorite things(cookies, pens, bags, etc.).

• On 10 cut-out pieces of decorated cards, write down 10 reasons (one for each card) why they are special to you. At the back of each one, write a corresponding prize or freebie/gift like a day of massage, a night at the movies, a basket of their favorite fruits, etc. that they can avail from you.

Whatever you decide to do, keep in mind that the important thing is to give them your time and attention and that incomparable personal touch to make them feel how much you truly value them.

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Felicity Maris Modesto is a content writer/editor and visual artist with a passion for topics delving on health and self-improvement. She is interested in the emerging online pharmacy industry. For more information about online healthcare and buying tramadol online, please consult http://www.orderdrugs.ca/buy_tramadol.html

 

View all articles by Felicity Maris Modesto

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