Lois Wyse: ThirdAge Insider |
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Grandparents Raising Grandkids
There's a new kind of health problem for today's grandparents. It has nothing to do with aching limbs, increased cholesterol, weight control, or the usual problems of aging. So what's the problem? Taking care of grandkids.
The result is often depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, alcoholism, and strokes that, according to a recent report in the New York Times, doctors link in part to the stress of being parents all over again, this time under far more difficult circumstances than the first time around.
Parenting Again
Are you the primary caregiver for your grandchild?
| Today's grandparents are faced with myriad problems that previous generations never knew, as a result of single parent households that require another family member to take on new responsibilities. About four million children in the United States live in households headed by a grandparent, a 41 percent increase since 1992, according to the Census Bureau.
More and more grandparents will be looking for help among other family members. Today's first letter is from an aunt who's learning the rewards of being a stand-in granny.
Dear Lois
About six years ago my sister-in-law and the daughter she put up for adoption were reunited, and it was a total disaster. I won't go into details, but the poor daughter, who was looking forward to the meeting, cried for three days afterwards. Somehow, however, the adoptive grandmother got my phone number and called me. As a result I've met my niece who has two beautiful little girls. The four-year-old is completely attached to me and keeps telling me how much she LOVES me. She "females" (her word for e-mail) me. I'm real glad that the adoptive grandma managed to get hold of me. CAROL Dear Carol
If you're able to act as another grandmother for the two girls, you are undoubtedly going to be a big help to the family. What many grandparents fail to realize before these grandchildren are born is that the need for assistance has never been greater. It is important that all grandparents (and caring aunts and uncles) look around the family table and see where they can offer an extra hug, another dollar, a special hour.
Camping Out and Living Life to the Fullest 
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