NATIONAL COUSINS DAY

National Cousins Day on July 24th recognizes the lifelong relationships that grow among cousins. Our first friendships often form with cousins as young as infants and endure a lifetime. 

Whether cousins grow up together in close-knit families or only see each other occasionally, they share common memories through grandparents, aunts, and uncles. At family gatherings, cousins entertain each other and get into trouble together, too. They celebrate birthdays and might even blow out the other’s candles to their cousin’s annoyance. When their siblings irritate them, cousins become an ally. Sometimes cousins seem more like siblings, especially if they’re only children.

As cousins grow up, watching their children grow reminds them of their youth. And that’s when the cycle begins anew.

The day celebrates every age of cousins – new baby cousins and cousins whose babies are all grown up!

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCousinsDay

Gather up your cousins and take a photo. Send a text to your cousins who are too far away. If you need to hear their voices, give them a call. Reminisce over the good times. Be sure to laugh about those things that didn’t seem so funny at the time. Post photos on social media using #NationalCousinsDay.

Cousins are like built in best friends, so cherish yours.

NATIONAL BIRTH MOTHER’S DAY

Join and earn

National Birth Mother’s Day on the Saturday before Mother’s Day honors birth mothers offers a show of support. May 10, 2025 is a day to recognize the biological mothers of adopted children.

My Fairy Birthmother: A Keepsake Storybook for Birthmothers, Adopted Children & Their Families Hardcover – June 1, 2018

by Mary Huron Hunter  (Author), Avery Hunter (Author)
My Fairy Birthmother: A Keepsake Storybook for Birthmothers, Adopted Children & Their Families

by Mary Huron Hunter  (Author), Avery Hunter (Author)

Each birth mother’s experience is personal. While the day originated as a day of solidarity, education, and compassion, it has evolved and may be received with a mixture of emotions. It may also be viewed as a celebration of the life a birth mother has brought into the world and has chosen to share with another family. Children of adoption may even also participate in the day, celebrating their birth mothers and the life they gave them. 

The Book of Answers from your Birth Mother: A guided journal for Birthmothers to share thier life story by Ms. Jenny Lynn Delaney (2010-09-26) Mass
The Book of Answers from your Birth Mother: A guided journal for Birthmothers to share thier life story by Ms. Jenny Lynn Delaney

While my parents celebrated a long life together, not everyone has that background. I’ve had lots of close friends who have searched and are still looking for their birth mothers. While we may not understand their reasons it is important to know this was the best choice available at the time.

If you were adopted you should remember that you’re new family chose you. If that’s not your story it doesn’t have to change who you want to be. We all have the choice of who we want to be. It’s defined, not by your past but the shape you want to make your future. If you don’t know it or someone forgot to tell you, every one of us is special and can do great things with your life.

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World Hardcover – April 4, 2017

by Admiral William H. McRaven (Author)
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World

by Admiral William H. McRaven (Author)

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalBirthMothersDay

On this day, learn about the adoption process. Understand that each birth mother comes to adoptions for different and very personal reasons. Families and birth mothers will experience this day differently from family to family. For some, it may be a quiet and solemn day spent bonding with other birth mothers. For others, the adoptive families and children may spend the day celebrating birth mothers with cards and gifts similar to Mother’s Day. 

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Use #NationalBirthMothersDay to share on social media. 

NATIONAL BIRTH MOTHER’S DAY HISTORY

Mary Jean Wolch-Marsh established National Birth Mother’s Day in 1990 to show support for birth mothers like herself.

More Family Conversation

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY

Across the country on January 9th each year, citizens take the lead to show support on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. 

Law Enforcement Officers of every rank and file have chosen a profession that puts their life on the line every day for their communities.  They’ve answered a call to public service that is demanding and often unappreciated.

From local, state, and federal, their duties command dedication. The jobs are often thankless and take them away from their families for long hours. Rarely do they know what their days have in store for them. Often law enforcement are the only paid emergency resource a community has. More often they work in coordination with other local, state, and federal organizations to make communities safer.

On National Law Enforcement Day, we have an opportunity to thank them for their service and offer a token of respect.

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY

Several organizations came together to create National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in 2015 to thank officers across the country for all the daily sacrifices they make for their communities. Some of the organizations supporting the observance include:

  • Concerns of Police Survivors
  • FBI National Academy Associates
  • Fraternal Order of Police
  • International Association of Chief of Police
  • Officer Down Memorial Page
  • Law Enforcement United
  • National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
  • International Conference of Police Chaplains
  • National Troopers Coalition

Since then the inaugural celebration, nationwide many more organizations have joined forces to support National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) to spread encouragement and respect to these dedicated men and women.

HOW TO OBSERVE #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay

There are several ways to show your support. Send a note of thanks to your local, county or state police agency. Wear blue, turn your social media channels blue or shine a blue porch light to show your support. Find more ideas at Concerns of Police Survivors and share your support using #NationalLawEnforcementAppreciationDay to share on social media.  

FAMILY STORIES MONTH

Family Stories Month rolls around in November just in time for the holidays. When families gather it’s an excellent time to share stories and learn about family history. Throughout the month Family History Month encourages you to record or listen to stories from relatives of all ages.

Start thinking of the questions to ask family members. While you’re jotting down those, be ready for some memories of your own to get stirred up. There are numerous anecdotes of adventure, travel, and romance in our family’s past. Whether we spin a humorous tale or an epic history of a whole branch of the family, record the information in a format that can be shared with future generations.

Prepare for Sharing and Preserving Family Stories
  • Prepare a list of questions, or memory prompts to share with family members during family gatherings.
  • Before family members arrive, email a list of questions for them to review. It will give them a chance to come up with memories to share.
  • Ask family to write their memories in story form to share. Offer to compile them in a book form for family members as the family memoir.
  • During the gathering, individuals can share their memories. Don’t be surprised if someone remembers events differently!

Enjoy the time with family and making more stories to share during Family Stories Month!

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HOW TO OBSERVE #FamilyStoriesMonth

Share your stories and find ways to preserve them for future generations. Enjoy the retelling of them over and over. Use #FamilyStoriesMonth to post on social media.

NATIONAL MIDDLE CHILD DAY

Each year on August 12th, National Middle Child Day honors that in-between child in the family. Depending on the size of the family, sometimes more than one falls between the firstborn and baby of the family. 

Many believe birth order plays a pivotal role in the personalities of children. The Middle Child Syndrome states that the firstborn is often the leader and the role-player. Meanwhile, the youngest one earns the title of the baby family. Therefore, the middle child’s role remains undefined.

Birth order is known to contribute to the Big Five personality traits: extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. One personality study claims that middle children tend to be artistic and creative. 

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No matter what the personality tests and therapists say, the day directs us to focus on the middle child. This day means that parents and siblings pull out all the stops. Make your middle-born family members feel special. 

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalMiddleChildDay

Keep your middle child/children in mind. Try these ideas:

  • Make their favorite homemade dish and invite them over.
  • Send a card and share a memory of them. (Be sure the memory is of the middle child and not one of your other children.)
  • Invite your middle child for coffee. 
  • Call your middle child to find out about their day. This is especially important if you don’t usually call.
  • Take a walk with your middle child. Throw a frisbee or do one of their favorite activities. 
  • Play a card or board game.
  • If your middle child has a middle child, suggest all of you make a day of activities together. 

Post on social media using #NationalMiddleChildDay to alert others.

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NATIONAL MIDDLE CHILD DAY HISTORY

Elizabeth Walker created national Middle Children’s Day in the 1980s. It was initially intended to be observed on the second Saturday in August. However, along the way, it has become generally accepted to celebrate it on August 12th. In a newspaper article submitted by her grandson, Litton Walker, III, Walker stated that she wanted to create a National Day to honor those children “born in the middle of families” who she felt were “left out.” The name was later changed to National Middle Child Day.

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