03/10/2026
Today we're celebrating grandparents, and especially the ones who have stepped in to raise their grandchildren.
Many of them didn't plan on this. They were ready for slower mornings, quiet weekends and the joy of being the fun grandparent. Instead, when a family needed them, they said yes. Back to school runs, homework at the kitchen table, parent-teacher interviews, night-time nightmares, and all the love that comes with raising a child.
They do this while often juggling fixed incomes, health challenges, complicated family dynamics and the grief that can sit underneath it all. And most of the time, they do it quietly, without asking for recognition.
So today, we want to say: We see you. We value you. We honour you.
We see the sacrifices you make, the plans you've put on hold, and the strength it takes to start again when you thought your parenting years were behind you. You are keeping children connected to their family, their culture and their story. That matters more than words can say.
To every grandparent raising a grandchild: thank you. Your love is changing lives.
If you know a grandparent doing this mahi, tell them today that you see them. Better still, ask what support would help, whether that's a meal, a lift, a break, or just someone to listen.
