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Grandparent News
Once Again There Will Be a Grandparents Day that Few
Will Notice
You may want to start hinting to the grandkids that
it is September 9
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
 Aug. 27, 2007 Every year at this time we remind
our readers that Grandparents Day is just around the corner Sunday,
September 9, this year. I suspect it will come and go with hardly any
notice at all, even by your grandchildren, as it usually does. But,
there are more of us every day and sooner or later someone is bound to
notice.
I guess people don't see grandparents as being as
valuable to the family structure as are mothers and fathers, who
certainly get a lot of attention on their special days. In fact, I'm
pretty sure Ground Hog Day draws more attention than Grandparents Day.
Well, of course, many grandmothers and grandfathers
get recognized by the family on mother's day and father's day, too.
Maybe the grandkids think that's enough.
Marian McQuade of Fayette County, West Virginia, is
credited with the idea of an observance that might persuade
grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents. Good
idea, but just doesn't seem to be working. Maybe the youngsters aren't
buying into this "wisdom" idea.
Or, maybe it is the official Website that is
holding us back. Click here
to check it out.
Nevertheless, U.S. presidents have been issuing
annual proclamations since 1978 - Jimmy Carter started it - setting up the first Sunday after Labor
Day as National Grandparents Day.
In honor of our nations grandparents, the Census
Bureau annually presents an array of data about these unsung role models
and caregivers.
The agency estimates there are about 56 million of
us, which seems like enough to create some attention. But, there are
over 80 million mothers, which is overwhelming. Yet, there are only
about 66 million fathers and we seem to be gaining on them.
Maybe this will be our year.
Census Bureau statistics are below.
5.7 million
The number of grandparents whose grandchildren younger than
18 live with them. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
Grandparents
as Caregivers
2.5 million
The number of grandparents responsible for most of the basic
needs (i.e., food, shelter, clothing) of one or more of the
grandchildren who live with them. These grandparents represent about 43
percent of all grandparents whose grandchildren live with them. Of these
caregivers, 1.5 million are grandmothers, and 915,000 are grandfathers.
(Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
1.7 million
The number of grandparent-caregivers who are married.
(Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
1.4 million
The number of grandparents who are in the labor force and
also responsible for most of the basic needs of their grandchildren.
(Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
912,000
Number of grandparents responsible for caring for their
grandchildren for at least the past five years. (Source: 2005 American
Community Survey)
496,000
Number of grandparents whose income is below the poverty
level and who are caring for their grandchildren. (Source: 2005 American
Community Survey)
753,000
Number of grandparents with a disability who are caring for
their grandchildren. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
545,000
Number of grandparents who speak a language other than
English and who are responsible for caring for their grandchildren. Of
this number, 217,000 speak English very well. (Source: 2005 American
Community Survey)
$40,359
Median income for families with grandparent-caregiver
householders. If a parent of the grandchildren was not present, the
median dropped to $30,246. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
73%
Percentage of grandparents who care for their grandchildren
and who live in an owner-occupied home. (Source: 2005 American Community
Survey)
28%
Among preschoolers with employed mothers, the percentage
regularly cared for by their grandparent during the hours their mom
works. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/childcare.html>
Grandchildren
5.7 million
The number of children living with a grandparent; these
children comprise 8 percent of all children in the United States. The
majority of these children, 3.7 million, live in the grandparents home.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>
2.1 million
The number of children who live with both a grandmother and a
grandfather. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>
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