Celebrating Grandparents’ Day
Written by Tekella Foster, an Emmy award-winning journalist and producer who spends her time between Mississippi and New York. She also teaches etiquette and manners to youths. Follow her by going to www.Tekella.com and linkedin.com/in/tekellafoster.
I come from the standpoint of being the beneficiary of knowing and spending time with my maternal and paternal grandparents, my great-grandmothers, and a great-great-grandmother who lived to be 101.
Whether you’re fortunate to have known several grandparents or adopted a “grand-model” to call your own, wouldn’t you agree this bond is like no other?
Since the death of my last living grandparent in 2021, I’ve become more nostalgic, longing for the “good ole days”. But don’t worry, I promise not to bore you with the highlights of my favorite childhood moments such as watching Other Mama (as my grandmother was affectionately known) carefully roll out dough to make her delicious fried apple pies or sitting on the front porch with Madea laughing so much we’d start hitting each other. I’m convinced I inherited the laughing/hitting gene from her– and yes, I realized I just broke my promise to you.
The Grandparent Effect
The grands are the glue, the strong foundation, and essential to holding the family together.
Hands down, family reunions happen because grandparents exist. No one can rally the troops to attend Sunday church service or host weekly Sunday suppers as they can. And from what I could tell, the black sheep and the prodigal son were always invited and had a seat at the dinner table.
“Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.”
Their home was where you got acquainted and reconnected with the old, young, close, and distant relatives.
Most of the time when I saw cousins, it was at grandma’s house. From playing kickball and catching butterflies to gathering eggs from the chicken coop and racing to shell the most purple-hulled peas, we were never bored at our grandma’s home.
My grandparents worked hard to impart a spirit of togetherness, but I didn’t always appreciate it. There were times I felt as if I was shuffling from one house to another. Even though I’d complain about the visits, my mother knew it was important to them and good for me. A study in the journal Child Development, (2017) found that children who spend quality time with their grandparents were less likely to hold ageist opinions about older people. I’m so glad she ignored my childish behavior because I have a greater respect for elders today.
When my last grandmother suffered from a stroke and needed encouragement, I’d tell her she wasn’t simply matter (anything with mass that takes up space), but also she mattered. During her final days, she was surrounded by those she’d loved over the years, and now caring for her was our privilege.
Wanna know my solution to the “loneliness epidemic” we’re experiencing in America? Nurture and cherish the grandparent-grandchild relationships.
#DoSomethingGrand
Grandparents’ Day, the Sunday after Labor Day each year, is an occasion for everyone of all ages to honor and celebrate the grandparents in their lives.
It took me a while to figure this out, but the secret to becoming “a favorite” is simply spending time with them. If you’re long-distance, a weekly phone call is perfectly fine, and the conversation doesn’t have to be long.
There are several other ways to do something grand and you can find them here. Whatever you decide, remember to do these three things: keep It simple, meaningful, and consistent. Your grands will thank you later.
Do you have a personal story, research findings, or insights related to intergenerational connections? Your voice matters! We invite you to write a guest blog on intergenerational/grandfamilies themes to be featured on our blog site. Share your stories and insights with us at gu@gu.org. We’ll review all submissions within two weeks, and if approved will publish on our blog site. Join us in elevating the power of intergenerational connections.
