September 10th is National Grandparents Day. When I first heard of this holiday, I assumed that it was one of those special days created by the greeting card companies to help them sell cards. I was quite surprised when I learned the real origin and true value of Grandparents Day.
National Grandparents Day
National Grandparents Day was founded by Marian McQuade, a homemaker from West Virginia, to encourage grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. Marian McQuade also saw this special day as a way to champion the cause of lonely seniors in nursing homes. National Grandparents Day is a great time to focus on shut-ins and the homebound through cards, community projects, and visits. Many of these older folk are often unable to be with their families or have no families.
For those of us able to assemble multiple generations of our family, Grandparents Day can be a perfect time to hold a family reunion. Grandparents Day is the time to discover one's roots and learn patience, understanding, and appreciation from our living ancestors. Grandparents Day was created to be the special occasion to enhance communication between the generations. Computers can bring grandparents and grandchildren together and help solidify a lasting relationship. Marian McQuade would certainly approve of using today's most popular technology toy, the computer, to strengthen the bond between the generations.
Appreciating Your Grandparents
Our generation did not have the luxury of a computer to connect us to our grandparents. We were fortunate if our grandparents were geographically close enough for us to visit regularly. I was lucky enough to be able to know two of my grandparents but never knew the other two. My mother's mother died while my mom was still in high school, and her father died soon after I was born. I often wish that I had known them. Yet, that was not to be, as years ago death came much earlier for most than it does today. Better medical care and increased life spans enable many of us to enjoy years with our grandchildren and, in many cases, our great-grandchildren as well.
Appreciating Your Grandchildren
Most of us are blessed with the luxury of not being responsible for the daily upbringing and care of our precious grandchildren. Just watching them brings a sense of awe and wonder and the feeling of utter joy at having been a part of their creation. We can play with them, teach them, encourage them, and be their mentors. Tools that our grandparents never even dreamed of help us improve the quality of our relationships with our grandchildren. One of those tools is the computer.
Computers As Conduits Between Generations
Yes, our high-tech computers can serve as the conduit between generations. Computers can bring grandparents and grandchildren together and help solidify a lasting relationship. If you don't know how to use your computer to start communicating with your grandchildren, I'll give you a little help.
Share Hobbies with Grandchildren
Children quickly pick up just about any subject when the teacher is enthusiastic, so start with something that you love. If you have a hobby, that is a great place to begin. Introduce your grandchild gently by showing them examples of your hobby. Next e-mail them Web sites about the hobby that you can both enjoy. Even if your grandchildren live in a different part of the country or the world, you can use e-mail to make the connection.
My father introduced my son to coin collecting. Although my mother-in-law didn't have a specific hobby, she had a great sense of humor and loved good jokes, which she constantly shared with my children. Unfortunately, we didn't have personal computers when my children were young. I can just imagine the delight my children would have found in a daily e-mail joke from my mother-in-law or the fun that my son would have had with e-mail from my dad about his coin collection.
No matter what your hobby is, the Internet will provide research and knowledge as well as connecting you with others who share your hobby. If you don't yet have a hobby, visit some of the great Web sites about hobbies and choose a new one that will be interesting to both you and your grandchildren. E-hobbies and HobbyWorld are two Web sites that will whet your appetite. Whether it's model railroading, butterfly collecting, knitting, or cooking, the Internet will prove a valuable resource.
Communicate Through Digital Pictures
If your grandchildren are far away, consider purchasing a digital camera to share treasured moments and accomplishments across the miles. Send the kids pictures of the giant zucchini that you grew this year or the needlepoint picture that you just completed. Or how about a picture of Grandpa sound asleep in his chair with Kitty balanced on his tummy? Or consider buying a digital camera for the kids, so they can share special moments in their lives with you. Several manufacturers make digital cameras just for kids that are priced under $100. Two examples are KB Gear's Jam Cam for $89.00 and Mattel's Barbie Digital Camera for $74.95.
Build a Family Tree Together
Everyone loves to hear Grandma and Grandpa's stories of long ago. Now computers and the Internet can help keep those stories alive. Technology has made the search for one's roots easier and in many ways more fun. Why not invite your family to help build a family tree. Use the Internet or one of the popular software packages such as SierraHome's Generations Family Tree or Broderbund's Family Tree Maker. Working on a genealogy project together with your grandchildren will give them the opportunity to learn the ancestral line of their family. Many times, only grandparents have answers to questions about family histories. There are great sites for free online classes where parents and children or grandchildren can learn genealogy together such as WorldGenWeb For Kids. When family history is passed down to the grandchildren in this way, everyone can be assured of his heritage being preserved. When genealogy projects are enjoyed by grandchildren working with grandparents, the intergenerational bond grows strong.
Grandparenting is About Sharing
Grandparenting is all about sharing, and the computer can be an indispensable tool for sharing. Share your heritage, your thoughts, and your zest for life with your grandchildren. Let the computer link your grandchildren to you so that you can share your wisdom, heritage, and love. September was chosen as the month for National Grandparents Day to signify the "autumn years" of life. Aren't we fortunate to have the computer at our fingertips to use in teaching our grandchildren about the glorious fall colors that make up our own family tree?
