Sunday, September 12, 2010

Happy Grandparents Day

Did you know there are more than 70 million grandparents in the United States? I am one of them.

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the official proclamation declaring the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. That's the same year I graduated from Ohio University. Never thought much about the holiday since my grandparents on both sides were deceased and I wasn't even thinking about becoming a grandmother at the time.

According to the website, Grandparents.com, 43% became grandparents in their fifties, 37% in their forties, with the average age of grandparents in this country at 48. I becme a grandmother at 49. Other stats:

■72% take care of their grandchildren on a regular basis
■13% are primary caregivers
■60% live close to their grandchildren
■46% wish they could live even closer
■70% see the kids at least once a week
■66% travel with their grandkids
■81% have their grandkids for part or all of their summer vacation

On this day, I say Happy Grandparents Day! I salute every grandparent who has stepped up to the plate, sacrificed and helped make the life of a grandchild BETTER.

Are you one of them?

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