Eternally Grateful for Grandparents

Johannesburg 13 July 2009 - Grandparent's Day (13 September) is well worth celebrating. Its purpose is three-fold - to honour grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to spend time with their children's children and to help children gain a respect for the strength, unconditional love and guidance grandparents' offer in abundance.

There is surely something about grandchildren that has the potential to turn ordinary senior citizens into near- saints. The eyes of any grandmother or grandfather enjoying their grandchildren tend to sparkle with amazing love, patience and generosity. Grandparents give without reservation and thank goodness for one day to give a little back.

Jimmy Carter, President of the United States said it well in 1978 when he proclaimed Grandparent's Day a national holiday: "As we seek to strengthen the enduring values of the family, it is appropriate to honour our grandparents. Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and traditions that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us. We all know grandparents whose values transcend passing fads and pressures, and who possess the wisdom of distilled pain and joy. Because they are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations."

Grandparent's Day should be set aside as a very special Sunday – a great occasion to enhance communication between the generations and ensure family traditions are not lost. Many times, only grandparents have the answers to questions about family histories. With this invaluable source, songs, recipes, family folklore and rituals can be passed down to the grandchildren, assuring the preservation and continuity of this heritage.

Most important, Grandparent's Day is a chance to get together to view the family as a unit, and is sure to leave everyone with a feeling of love and belonging that lingers throughout the year.

For those families who cannot be together this Grandparent's Day, there is a way to honour the senior side of the family from afar. NetFlorist, South Africa's leading flower and gift delivery company has initiated a service to send personalised gifts to grandparents anywhere in the country, making sure that they feel loved and valued despite the distance.

For example, families can upload recent portraits in a digital format to NetFlorist's website, which NetFlorist will mount in a quality frame and deliver directly to Granny and Grandpa. This picture frame (R199) can be accompanied by any of NetFlorist's magnificent floral bunches, or even with an apron embroidered with "Granny", or "Nan" if the customer prefers.

On Grandparents Day we honour those who touch the lives of our children and grandchildren in a multitude of ways, easing the burden of parenting and demonstrating an unsurpassed and unconditional love to their families, a love enriched with the wisdom of age and experience.

Visit www.netflorist.co.za for sheer inspiration for all your gift-giving requirements. Or call 0861 300 600 to place an order. All prices mentioned exclude a delivery cost of R55 to anywhere in South Africa

About NetFlorist

NetFlorist is the largest flower and gifting supplier in the country, having delivered in excess of 700 000 items since its inception on 1 February 1999. NetFlorist is in the business of delivering emotions and encouraging customers to connect with the important people in their lives, in the most convenient way.

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