Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day is September 8^th, this Sunday! Yes, it’s a real thing, not something Hallmark made up just to sell cards. The origin of Grandparents Day is attributed to the efforts of Marian McQuade, herself a grandmother of 43. After nine years of campaigning to make it a national holiday. Mrs. McQuade final achieved success in 1979 when President Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day each year as National Grandparents Day. In part, the proclamation said:

Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us. Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our society a link to our national heritage and traditions.

We all know grandparents whose values transcend passing fads and pressures, and who possess the wisdom of distilled pain and joy. Because they are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations.

I admit I never heard of it until my children were in pre-school in the early ’90s and there was a special lunch in honor of Grandparents Day. After that realization, I made an effort to acknowledge my children’s grandparents on the special day but I’m afraid I was rather haphazard and often only realized it at the last minute and managed a quick run to the drugstore to buy a card. My parents were an incredible source of support for me and my daughters for many years. As a single mom, I relied on them for last-minute babysitting and most importantly, to provide a sense of stability and security when our lives were in upheaval. I feel kind of guilty as I look back, they deserved way more than a drugstore card!

My daughter and my dad at her pre-school Grandparents Day celebration

What do most grandparents want on Grandparents Day? I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that many people who are grandparents are in the same decluttering stage I am, not needing or wanting any more material objects to take up space and gather dust. My ideal Grandparents Day celebration would be about time spent with family. It would start with a family breakfast at our favorite hangout, Old School Bagel (the best coffee in Tulsa!) and would also involve a few hours at our neighborhood pool swimming with my grandson. Time, a homemade card, and a hug from my favorite two-year-old–that’s pretty much all I want. What would be your ideal Grandparents Day?

Swimming and my grandson, two of my favorite things!

If you need some ideas, the library has some great events going on to acknowledge the important role grandparents play in children’s lives. Different libraries have events including story times, tea parties, picnics, and crafts, so here is the list of what’s going on for grandparents and grandkids at Tulsa libraries this week, as well as special events at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulfur and the Tulsa Zoo.

Maxwell Park Library (1313 N. Canton Ave.)

Maxwell Park Gaming Guild: Grandparents Day Edition!
Friday, Sept. 6 ● 4-5:30 p.m.

Bring your grandparents to the library to play our new cooperative card and board games, where the aim of the game is to win or lose – together! Find the spy master, rescue Hogwarts or save humanity from a pandemic. We will have games for younger kids, as well as teens to share with their grandparents. 

Martin Regional Library (2601 S. Garnett Rd.)

Grandparents Day Picnic/Picnic del Día de los Abuelos
Saturday, Sept. 7 ● 11 a.m.-noon
Location: Auditorium

Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate grandparents with us! Bring a blanket, your favorite book and stuffed animal friend to our Grandparents Day Picnic! We’ll have snacks and bubbles, but more importantly, we’ll have fun reading and spending time with our family and friends. Please call Jocelyn at 918-549-7593 with any questions. //

¡Todos son bienvenidos a venir y celebrar a los abuelos con nosotros! ¡Vengan con una manta, su libro favorito y su peluche al Picnic del Día de los Abuelos! Tendremos bocadillos y burbujas, pero lo más importante es que nos vamos a divertir con nuestra familia y amigos mientras leemos juntos. Llame Jocelyn si tiene preguntas 918-549-7593.

Glenpool Library (730 E. 141^st St.)

Grandparents Day Tea Party
Saturday, Sept. 7 ● 1-2 p.m.

Grandparents and grandchildren of all ages are invited to join us for tea and cookies, a story and craft, and a small souvenir. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register.

Kendall-Whittier Library (21 S. Lewis Ave.)

Bingo Party: Celebrate Grandparents Day!
Saturday, Sept. 7 ● 2-3 p.m.

Come and celebrate Grandparents Day with your grandchildren. We will play bingo and have snacks and prizes. For all ages.

Judy Z. Kishner Library (10150 N. Cincinnati Ave., Sperry)

Decorate Your Own Bird Houses: Celebrate Grandparents Day!
Saturday, Sept. 7 ● 2-4 p.m.

Bring the whole family to celebrate Grandparents Day! Decorate bird houses with the grandchildren, play games and snack on refreshments. Supplies are provided on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Central Library (400 Civic Center)

Capturing Memories: A Grandparents Day Celebration
Sunday, Sept. 8 ● 2-3:30 p.m.
Location: Chapman Storytime Room

Join us in celebrating our grandparents! We’ll have a storytime followed by a fun craft for grandparents and their loved ones to create together. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. For all ages.

Helmerich Library (5131 E. 91^st St.)

Grandparents Boot Camp: Come and Up Your Grandparent Game
Monday, Sept. 9 ● 11 a.m.-noon

Can you name a Pokémon or know the difference between a game rated T and M? Do you know what TLDR and other slang mean? Would you like to learn some fun crafts you can do with the kids in your life? Come and up your grandparent game at our Grandparents Boot Camp!

Broken Arrow Library/South (3600 S. Chestnut Ave.)

Poured with Love: Celebrate Grandparents Day!
Monday, Sept. 9 ● 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate Grandparents Day by completing a poured painting project and enjoying fun snacks. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust. For all ages.

Broken Arrow Library (300 W. Broadway Ave.)

Tea Party: Celebrate Grandparents Day!
Wednesday, Sept. 18 ● 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Bring your grandma and grandpa to the library and celebrate Grandparents Day with tea, light snacks, crafts and bubbles! For preschoolers and their grandparents.

Zarrow Regional Library (2224 W. 51^st St.)

Messy Art Club: Decorate a Tote for Grandparents Day
Tuesday, Sept. 24 ● 6-7 p.m.

Celebrate Grandparents Day by decorating a canvas tote to keep. Bring your grandparent or special someone. Supplies are limited. For all ages.

Chickasaw Cultural Center (867 Charles Cooper Memorial Rd., Sulphur)

Grandparents Day Celebration
September 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; September 8, 12-5 p.m.

In honor of grandparents, the Chickasaw Cultural Center is hosting our annual Grandparent’s Celebration!

Grandparents will receive free admission to the Chikasha Poya Exhibit Center, as well as special discounts in the Aachompa’ gift shops and the Aaimpa’ Cafe.

Participate in special make-and-take cultural crafts and watch Cocoon, showing in the Anoli’ Theater at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tulsa Zoo (6421 E. 36th St. N.)

Celebrate Grandparents Day at the Tulsa Zoo
Sunday, September 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Tulsa Zoo is inviting guests to celebrate Grandparents Day at the zoo with half price admission for all guests on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019.

Be sure to visit some important zoo grandparents, including chimpanzee Susie, grandmother to 4-year-old Enloe. Grandmother Susie’s reassurance lets Enloe know it’s okay to try new foods and they both share a love of pineapple. Enloe belly laughs when Susie tickles him and he will, sometimes, make a game of teasing his grandmother.

Watch the entire chimpanzee troop receive enrichment at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. 

The zoo is celebrating its members all month long with daily deals and giveaways during Member Appreciation Month. Every zoo member visiting on Sunday, Sept. 8, will be entered for a chance to win registration to a Grand Experience: Ghost of Species Past, a class for grandparents to attend with their grandchildren.