Today is Grandparents Day, and I’d like to recognize the important role these relatives play in our lives. They are often our first storytellers, teaching us about our family and more importantly, about life. And today, many grandparents are also helping to raise their grandchildren because a parent or their own child is unable to.

I voted in favor of a resolution declaring September as Kinship Care Month in New York. More than 150,000 children in our state are living with grandparents, and nationwide, that figure is 2.7 million children. We should recognize and thank these elders for sharing their love and their homes, and forging the special bond of a kin or relative.

While family situations may differ, what remains the same is the unique bond between a grandchild and a grandparent. That love and care is something to be celebrated on this Grandparent’s Day, during Kinship Care Month, and year-round.