Grandparents Day: A Celebration of Quiet Influence & Lasting Love
In the smallest moments, grandparents pass down the biggest lessons — through rituals, traditions, and love that lasts forever.
Sep 07, 2025
Written by our Founder and Chairman, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.
Grandparents Day has never been considered a major occasion. There are no parades, family feasts, or mad dashes to stores. It’s a quieter celebration, one that invites us to reflect and give thanks for the special relationship we share, or once shared, with our parents’ parents.
In many ways, the holiday mirrors grandparents themselves: Cheering from the sidelines and shaping our lives in ways that aren’t loud but always impactful. For those of us fortunate enough to know the embrace of a grandparent — or to step into that role ourselves — this day is a reminder to appreciate the bonds that shape families across generations.
I’ve been lucky to experience that connection from both sides: First as a grandson, learning from my own grandparents, and now as a grandfather of seven, doing my best to pass that same love and wisdom on to all of them.
Last week in Celebrations Pulse, I wrote about a few of my memories and what they mean to me. I also invited readers to share theirs, and my inbox quickly filled with touching recollections. In honor of Grandparents Day (Sept. 7), I want to share a few of those stories with you.
The power of little moments
Many community members shared stories that remind us that grandparenting isn’t always about grand gestures but everyday moments. These small rituals linger across generations and paint a picture of what makes this bond so enduring.
Jane, for instance, spoke of the joy of sitting with her grandkids on a hot day, sharing popsicles, or listening to birdsong in the yard. She adds that those little rituals remind her how precious time with her grandchildren really is.
Patty recalled living with her grandmother during college and the comfort of shared meals, laughter over old Red Skelton shows, and learning to bake her grandmother’s famous cinnamon rolls, which she now makes with her own granddaughter.
Karen remembered the pleasures of visiting her grandma along the Ohio River: Cracker Jacks on the porch, Hostess cupcakes that felt like gold, and birthday books inscribed in her grandmother’s hand. Now a grandmother of five, she’s paying it forward with new rituals of her own:
“I’m inspired to be more intentional with the activities I plan to do with them.”
Tracy reflected on walking to church every Sunday, holding her grandmother’s hand as they sang Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors,” followed by fried chicken and stories — a memory so enduring she later named her store after the song.
And Linda shared how the sight of stargazer lilies and African violets, or the sound of Herb Alpert’s trumpet, still transports her back to her grandmother’s living room. Linda adds:
“My Grandma Lorraine has been gone over 35 years now but still remains a presence in our lives.”
Lessons that last a lifetime
Many of you also shared the lessons your grandparents passed down. These were not just words or actions in the moment, but wisdom that shapes the people we become.
Take GayeAnn, for example. She grew up in a household with her grandparents, who taught her everything from gardening to baking to gratitude. “My hope is I can give my grandchildren the memories my grandparents gave to me,” she said.
Russ recalled learning to waterski with his Bubba in Florida. After falling again and again, his grandfather just laughed and said, “One more time.” Eventually, Russ popped up and glided across the water, proud and thrilled. “Bubba believed in me and wouldn’t let me give up,” Russ shared.
Ann reflected on her Grandma Nora, who never said “I love you” but showed it in her actions — paying for Irish dance lessons, playing accordion tunes, and raising five children after her husband left. Ann recalls:
“By her example, I learned perseverance, and I count being loved by her among my greatest blessings."
Carol’s grandmother, Mama Baker, lived off the land and offered a warm meal to anyone who walked through her door. “Her selfless spirit shaped my life,” Carol wrote, and inspired her to write a newspaper column honoring people in her community who give as generously as her grandmother once did.
Roberta remembered the lesson her grandfather taught her after he took a janitor job following a health setback. When she asked if he was embarrassed, he said, “Don’t worry about how dirty you get making money honestly. Worry if the way you make money is dirty.”
Celebrating a legacy of love
These stories — and so many others I wish I had room to include — remind me how much grandparents influence our lives. Through their wisdom, their stories, and the rituals they pass down, they leave a legacy that continues long after they’re gone.
This week, I encourage you to reach out if you’re fortunate enough to have grandparents in your life. Give them a call, share a memory, or simply say thank you. Use your power to let them know the difference they’ve made.
And for those whose grandparents are no longer here, honor them by carrying their spirit forward. Tell their stories, live their values, and let the people around you know how their love still guides you. In doing so, we keep their presence alive and ensure that their influence never ends.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
