Retirement and Parenting your Grandchildren

by Kae
(Canada)

We've had full custody of our granddaughter for the past 6 years (she'll be 9 very soon). I feel old when we are at her school gatherings and some of the mothers seem to be either looking for another available grandma figure to send their children to, or I get the blank "stare". You know, the one where they don't really see you because you are "old". This is when getting older is "for the dogs."

I feel young when I'm socializing with others of like-mind, and on the many, many outings with our granddaughter.

I feel young and filled with anticipation in the morning, but as the day progresses I begin to feel older. I think this is probably biological.

Either way I mostly feel happy, eager to learn more, and glad to have been blessed with good health and a beautiful granddaughter who I have the privilege of raising.

The serenity part comes to me usually in the middle of the night when I can't get back to sleep. Yoga and meditation, counting my blessings and being thankful help me to carry a part of the serenity into a day filled with responsibilities.

Wise words I really understand now, by an unknown...

"Think it through double,
and you'll stay out of trouble."

Respectfully submitted
Kae

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It is worth it
by: marsha

I raised one grandchild. He is about to finish college. Which makes me so happy. At meetings at our high school, there was only one Mother and the rest of the "mothers" were GrandMothers.

Raising Grands
by: Zenobia

I know how you feel, I have raised one from 10 months to the age he is now, which is 22. I was a young grandma, but a grandma just the same.
Often at outings with other parents at some school or social function, there would be those
blank stares, though I was just 47 or 48, I was made to feel like an intruder. Questions were often asked of him, as if I was not there.

Teachers talked to me in louder tones (I kid you not) and excluded me from some discussions. Other kids asked him, "Where are your real parents"? right in front of me and people asked, "Why are you raising him."? and "Where are his parents"?

Then I partially raised two more but the rewards are greater than the questions and zoning out and all of it.

We have come to a place in our society where this is no longer stranger, but sadly... for whatever reason.... kind of the norm.

Hang in there, keep your peer stuff going, because I missed out on mine, due to feeling that I was somehow judged by those who were not raising kids. You have to keep an active "Adult" life or you might end up regretting your decision to raise her.

You are a loving grandparent. Gloat about it! :-)

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