A Grand Occasion

Sebastian Rivera wasn't sure he wanted Dad to leave him at preschool.

"I want my mama," he said. After all, it was just his second week of school and it all seemed so new. "I want my dad."

No worries, though. On this special day, Nonni and Nonno were there to comfort him.

"How about Nonni?" Angela Molini of Stockton asked 3-year-old Sebastian as she gave her grandson a big hug.

The "3s" class at Blessed Beginnings Preschool in Stockton, Calif., celebrated Grandparents Day on September 10 with milk, cookies and a special gift the children had made.

Soon enough Sebastian turned his frown upside down with the help of his grandparents, who had brought another grandson, 1-year-old Delano Berean, along.

"We see our grandchildren every week," Molini said. "We help out by watching them when we're needed. We visit. We have a good time together, don't we?"

Grandparents Day is celebrated with the intent of encouraging kids to benefit from the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents, and enjoy warm, nurturing relationships with them.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed that the first Sunday after Labor Day should be known as National Grandparents Day.

In San Joaquin County, Calif., several area schools celebrated the day early by having students bring their grandparents to class. Others are planning celebrations later in the school year.

"I want to thank all our grandparents who are joining us today for milk and cookies," said Laura Alvarez-Munoz, the Young 3s teacher for Blessed Beginnings at First Baptist Church in Stockton. "We just want to celebrate our grandparents and thank them for the faith they instill in their grandchildren. We're so glad to be able to share our morning with you."

Three-year-old Ryan Harwell quickly spotted his grandma, Irene Harwell, as she walked into the class.

"It's exciting to see all these little children and see their grandparents being involved like this," Harwell said as Ryan climbed up on her lap for a big hug.

Does she spoil her grandson?

"Maybe a bit," the grandmother of seven said with a chuckle.

Deborah Jones, who has five grandchildren, said she thought it was extra nice that the class took time to celebrate grandparents. She was there to visit with her youngest grandchild, 2-year-old Khalid Lanier, but soon had several other children surrounding her to look at a colorful storybook.