We all know about Fathers Day and Mothers Day, but have you ever heard about Grandparents Day? In Singapore, National Grandparents Day is celebrated on 24th November.

Officially established in 1999, Grandparents Day is a day for us to remember the selfless love and achievements of our grandparents. It is a time of celebration and appreciation; from caring for us as children when our parents were away at work to whipping up wonderful dishes for the household, their love for us is non-verbal, one that is shown instead through actions we understand.

Most of our grandparents hail from the far-flung lands of China, India, Indonesia and beyond. Some arrived with the British, others on rickety boats and some even on foot. Regardless of where they came from, they were all united by a common goal of leading a better life. My grandfather was one of them; scurrying aboard a small ship at the tender age of 5 together with my great grandmother that landed in Singapore. He recalls having to move out of China after his father had passed away; there was little to eat. Like many others during that time, their struggles did not end after reaching Singapore. With few opportunities, they did whatever they could to make a living and raise their children, who in turn have become our parents. These trials and tribulations had cemented important life values that have kept them going through the years, forging them into the people we now love today.

Grandparents are our mentors, guiding us through tales of valuable life lessons. They anchor the extended families together like a keystone, connecting everyone together no matter how far apart. Nothing brings them greater joy than to see the entire family intermingling. This however, has become somewhat of a luxury these days as our busy lives are ruled by deadlines and demands, making it easy for us to lose track of time and the people around us. Retired or not, our grandparents are usually the first to notice, wondering why it has become harder to spend time with the ones they love. With daily communications largely shifted to the digital realm, the less tech savvy grandparents are excluded from this social interaction. Their love language comes from physical presence and direct conversations rather than digital communications, which then quickly makes them feel left behind.

Grandparents Day is a day that is not as celebrated as Fathers Day and Mothers Day, with Grandparents Day deals at food establishments and entertainment outlets being relatively absent. This, however, doesn’t mean we should treat it with any less importance. Bring them out for a nice dinner, go on a short overseas trip or have a simple gathering at their home. Spend time with them, talk to them and listen to what they have to say. Nothing brings us greater joy than to see warm, happy smiles on our grandparents’ faces.

To bless grandparents at St John’s Home for Elderly Persons, please donate: https://www.giving.sg/stjohnshomesg