Happy Kid’s Day!

94 years ago today, my now-late Grandma Marilyn was born. She was special for many reasons (see my most recent blog post about her for details - she’s a gem), but today there is one reason in particular that I feel compelled to share.

When I was growing up, on seemingly the most random days of a given year, I would receive an envelope in the mail from Grandma Marilyn. Opening the envelope, there was a card and a little hand-written note, along with a 5- or 10-dollar bill. The card/note often read something along the lines of, “Happy Kid’s Day!” with well wishes and her love. There were always instructions to use the gift for something fun - a toy I had been wanting, a trip to McDonald’s, or whatever else. To my knowledge (my cousins can correct me if I’m wrong here), whenever Grandma Marilyn decided it was Kid’s Day, she sent the card/note/gift to each of her grandchildren (10 in total).

Now, I don’t know whether or not Grandpa Ed was privy to these little gifts going out at random - he was rather tight with the wallet (read: financially responsible) and not for bad reason, bless him. Meanwhile, Grandma Marilyn was more inclined to “spoil the grandkids,” as it were, with gifts of a wide variety.

I can’t help but think of Kid’s Day this month, and especially today on her 94th birthday, now celebrated from beyond Earth. Thinking back, it was one of the many little golden tokens of who she was as a person and as a grandma. On the surface the random card/note/gift was one of her quirks; underneath, it was her way of thinking of each of her grandchildren, encouraging each of us to “treat ourselves” a little bit without shame in doing so, and - most importantly - letting us know she loves each of us.

So today, April 10th - Kid’s Day - if you have children, or grandchildren, or nieces or nephews, or children in your life in some “Modern Family” capacity - genetic or otherwise - I encourage you to take them out for some fun. Take them to their favorite park. Take them to get an ice cream cone at the local fast food place (after dinner or before is up to you). Take them to the arcade or the sporting event or the movie that they’ve been wanting to go to.

It doesn’t have to be on April 10th. It doesn’t even have to be in April. But I promise, from personal experience, whatever fun thing you do together will be remembered.

Grandma Marilyn knew Kid’s Day was never about her. It was about her grandchildren. It was about being with us from miles away or states away. It was about celebrating being a kid. And it was about communicating love.

Go celebrate the children in your life. That includes the child inside of you, too.