My first year at Corpus I didn’t really understand the allure of Grandparent’s Day. Possibly because I couldn’t picture my Grandparents attending one for me so I didn’t understand why the students were so excited about it. I have kind of an interesting Grandparent situation. Most of my biological Grandparents passed away when I was young. Their involvement in my younger years was mostly limited to holidays. They were too old and fragile to do much travelling. My Godmother’s parents, however, filled more of the classical role of Grandparents. They were at every dance recital, every birthday party, every graduation. I imagine that if my school had had a Grandparent’s and Family Friends Day, it would have been Mr. and Mrs. “B” that I would have invited.
Now, I watch the excitement in the eyes of our students as they give their elderly loved one a tour of our school. And I get it. There’s something enchanting about sharing your world with someone you love. Holding their hand as you show them your desk and your work posted on the wall. Here’s where I hang my backpack, see how it has my name? This is my best friend, we play at recess every day.
It’s also a great way to keep kids connected to their cultural background and family heritage. I love hearing the different terms of endearment used. Meemaw, Nona, Pop Pop, Opa. Mrs. Twomey’s granddaughter calls her Mamó, the Gaelic name for Grandmother. Little girl Twomey may not understand the significance behind that name now but what a learning opportunity! As she grows older, the bond she has with her Mamó will maintain her connection to her heritage. It may also give her a chance to share about her family to others. Perhaps she will meet someone else who uses the same name for a Grandmother.
You, as parents probably already know all that stuff. You came to Back to School Night and you hear about the adventures during recess. But the extended relatives don’t always get that opportunity. Events like this are a great way for the generations to connect. I imagine our students are familiar with sharing about their lives over Thanksgiving dinner, or explaining how school is going in between opening Christmas gifts. I remember often times struggling to think of what to say to my Grandparents. Our students have a gift in that they get to do more than just tell, they get to show. These are the things that strengthen our Corpus community. Hands on, in person experiences that our students and families carry with them.