Lewis and Pauline Parrish had a busy week recently as they made the rounds of several Grandparents Day celebrations in Lawton Public Schools.
One Tuesday, they were at Brockland Learning Center’s Doughnuts for Grownups event not only celebrating Grandparents Day but also helping their youngest granddaughter, Emma Parrish, celebrate her fifth birthday.
“She’s the last of the granddaughters; she’s the baby,” said Pauline Parrish, who explained that she and her husband would be attending events at Crosby Park later in the week for their other three granddaughters.
“We get to spend some special time with them,” Lewis Parrish said of the planned events.
Josh Blum also was spending some special time with his first grandson, Amenadiel Smith, 4, at Brockland.
“I just remember my grandpa doing it for me when I was growing up,” Blum said. Blum said he was active duty military when his children were younger and he missed some of these special times. Blum said although he babysits a lot, he wanted to be there Tuesday for his grandson.
What does he want his grandson to remember about this day?
“Just that I was there for him,” Blum said. The two will have a memento of the day after they had their picture made in front of a balloon bouquet shaped like a chocolate doughnut.
Sharon Pierce, who was sharing the day with her oldest granddaughter, Aoife Van Hoorebeke, said this was her first Grandparents Day.
“I just want to make memories and show her love,” Pierce said. “Just spending time with her and making sure she has someone here for her.”
Brockland Principal Katie Caughron said this was the second year the school has held Doughnuts for Grownups.
“This event is for anyone that has a special grownup in your life, and it is inspired by Grandparents Day,” Caughron said. “This is their first experience with school, and we would love for their families to be able to come in and experience a special event with them. It’s inclusive of anyone else who comes to visit, whether it’s their parent or grandparent.”
Caughron said the event was inspired by students such as herself who grew up in a military community and didn’t always have grandparents near.
“I wanted them to be able to have anyone come visit, whether it was their grandparent or their parent or whoever was meaningful to their life,” she said.
In addition to sharing a doughnut, students made an art project to take home and could have their picture made at the balloon arch.