![Grandparent Day is first Sunday after Labor Day [Image: publicdomainpicture.net]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/9/9/660x290/b_502x220x82/grandparent-day-is-first-sunday-after-labor-day-image-publicdomainpicturenet_1560195.jpg "Grandparent Day is first Sunday after Labor Day [Image: publicdomainpicture.net]")
Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. Father's Day is the third Sunday in June. Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day every year. This year, Grandparents Day falls on September 10. That day is not celebrated as much as the other parent days, but it should be because each child has four grandparents. They include their father's parents and their mother's parents.
The origin of Grandparents Day dates back to 1973. It was established by Marian McQuade who had 15 children, 43 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. She thought it was nice to set aside a day for women like herself to be honored.
It was also a way for grandparents to bond with their grandchildren.
On Grandparents Day, a lot of families make sure their children respect and do something nice for their grandparents. Not only did McQuade want her grandchildren to spend time with her, she believed that the elderly in nursing homes and retirement homes should be honored whether they were grandparents or not.
How the day was passed into law
The West Virginia housewife began her campaign in 1970. She was so passionate about her cause that she took her idea to the president who was President Jimmy Carter at the time. He agreed with her, and he signed the proclamation on August 3, 1978, after Congress passed it into law. Today, President Jimmy Carter has three sons, one daughter, eight grandsons, three granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.
Suggestions for Grandparents Day
Since school has just started, students can visit their grandparents and tell them about their new school year. If they live far away, they could use FaceTime or Skype to connect with them. If they had planned in advance, they could have sent a greeting card. The card shops do have cards for Grandparents Day.
If children spend time with their grandparents, they could talk about their family tree. Looking through photo albums together will be a good treat for grandchildren as well as for grandparents because the photos will bring back many memories. The younger generation will probably have fun laughing at the clothes, hairstyles, and cars that were popular during their grandparents' younger days.
McQuade died on September 26, 2008, at the age of 91. She would have been happy to know that her labor was not in vain and people are still celebrating National Grandparents Day as she wanted. At the time of her death, she was survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
