Helping out with the Grandchildren
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008
by Iris Taub
More and more Grandparents, are taking an active part in helping their children raise their grandchildren.
Many parents are forced to work full time and not all of them can afford daycare .
I have the pleasure of being one of those Grandparents who takes care of two of her four grandchildren alternant Wednesday's and every Thursday and Friday.
My daughter has peace of mind when she works, and the children keep me young and give me something to focus on rather than my symptoms of Fibromyalgia which forced me into an early retirement.
I also met some wonderful younger women who have become really wonderful friends and I find that these women and I have so much in common and the age difference doesn't seem to be an issue with us at all.
I keep my grandchildren busy with library programs and playgroups and my granddaugher is learning a valuable lesson about the environment and loves to go to nature preserves and parks.
I have noticed more and more Grandparents sharing this experience as well. I think that due to economic situations, there will be more and more Grandparents helping out. I also think that being able to have the family involved in the care of the children gives them the sense of security that sometimes they don't experience in a daycare environment. Let's face it, when a child can have a one to one relationship with someone, rather than sharing that attention with many other children, that child gets the individual attention that many children need. I have built many memories with my Grandchildren and we also keep a picture album of all the special places we have visited. They grow up so quickly so I make it a point in sharing many special adventures with them.
I also try my best on my "day's off" to spend some special quality time with my eldest Grandson who is twelve. When he was five we always would spend one special day together and now I realize that he will soon rather spend time with friends than his Grandmother so I try to find a time when his busy schedule and days off will allow us to recapture our special time together. His baby brother is only fifteen months old so I will wait until he is old enough to enjoy special days with me as well.
Being a Grandparent is a blessing and I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren and building memories to share with them. If you have the opportunity to share a special day with your granchildren, do it and build memories that you will all share and treasure forever.
Iris S. Taub
Parkland, Florida
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Very good article Iris, I've never had children so I of course do not have any grandchildren. I can imagine the joy you have by being with them. President elect Obama may have his mother in law living with them in the white house to help with the grandchildren. See you're not alone many grandparents want to be a part of their grand children's lives.Thanks Dave for taking the time to respond to my article.Yes, I know I am not alone and I am finding more and more Grandparents who are doing the same thing and loving every minute of it.I feel truly blessed to be able to able to see all the "firsts" again and to share all the special events in their lives. There was and old saying "Out of the mouths of babes" and you would not believe some of things our older grandchildren have said that brought smiles to our faces and made us laugh.I wouldn't trade this opportunity for anything else in the world!
Iris, a delightful article. I'm happy you know how blessed you are to be apart of your grandchildren lives. I do not have children. The home for pregnant teens I've founded will give me the opportunity to be a mom and grandmom. I tease my siblings by telling them I will have more grandkids than all of them combined. I look forward to the joy you and others have.
PS My siblings will be in Heron Bay (Parkland) for Thanksgiving with one of our sisters. I won't be there but will join them at one of our brothers' home for Christmas in Ormond Beach.
A happy thanksgiving to you and your family.
Hi Avis,I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.By the way, you don't have to give birth to a child to be a Mom! Any woman can be a mother, but it takes someone special to be a Mom and I would say that you have been blessed on many levels by opening your heart and giving a home to pregnant teenagers. I am sure that these girls will appreciate your kindness and they would be the first ones to tell you just what I have already said. So.... You are indeed a Mom and will be a Grandma as well to many wonderful children!Iris S. TaubParkland, FloridaThank you, Iris. I appreciate what you've stated as truth and the encouragement you've given me. I'm smiling.
Avis
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