We have a unique opportunity this Sunday. As our nation remembers the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we’re also celebrating National Grandparents Day.
It’s purely a coincidence. Grandparents Day, which was first proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, always falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day. This Sunday is also Patriot Day — the 21st anniversary of the nation’s 9/11 tragedy.
Marian McQuade started the campaign to focus on lonely people in nursing homes and teach children to appreciate the wisdom of their elders. McQuade’s descendants formed a nonprofit to promote National Grandparents Day but it’s only gained recognition in the last few years.
Our GaGa Sisterhood is celebrating Grandparents Day with a Zoom presentation at 2 pm PST by Shirley Showalter, author of “The Mindful Grandparent: The Art of Loving Our Children’s Children.” Shirley will share ten themes from her book which fit so perfectly with the purpose of National Grandparents Day: to make memories and foster relationships with our grandchildren.
The Mindful Grandparent doesn’t shy away from the challenging issues in contemporary grandparenting. The book covers topics such as cultivating curiosity, giving meaningful gifts, helping children explore difficult topics, building a grandparent team, honoring adult children’s boundaries, and managing technology.
You’re invited to join us for this uplifting presentation by clicking on our GaGa Sisterhood Meetup group. You can also RSVP by sending me an email at: donnedavis@gagasisterhood.com
If you’re not available to attend our meeting, I hope you’ll use this calendar coincidence to spend time with your family and have a meaningful conversation. It’s definitely an opportunity for you to share your feelings about where you were and how you felt when 9/11 occurred to help your grandchildren understand how the event affected our country.
Happy Grandparents Day!
