Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Carrots and Broccoli for Breakfast?

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

Kids can be picky eaters and not want to eat the amount of vegetables and whole grains that they need. So as the parent or grandparent, sometimes we need to become creative. My girls have grown up eating healthy food and prefer my "healthy" lunches to school lunch any day. But I'm writing about breakfast here, so here is a sneaky little trick.

I make my pancake batter from my homemade pancake mix made mostly with freshly ground flours. You can find the recipe on my Feb 7, 2009 posting on my Healthy Living Blog at www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com. The only thing I need to add to the mix is water, an egg, and olive oil.

Okay, how do vegetables go with pancakes? Easy!

I put a handful of raw baby carrots, a handful of raw shredded broccoli slaw, and a cup of water into my Vita Mix machine and blend it thoroughly. If you have a regular blender, you will probably want to use cooked vegetables, as the Vita Mix is a powerful machine. After I have pureed my water and vegetables, I add one egg, 1 tbs. oil, and about 1 1/2 cups of my pancake mix and blend them together. Then I serve the nice hot, soft, delicious pancakes with a pat of butter and light syrup. The pancakes contain a complete protein and a serving of high nutrient vegetables.

Our kids like steamed broccoli and carrots for dinner anyway, but this way they get vegetables at breakfast as well without even knowing it.

Karen Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.SeniorPro.com

Are You Laughing Enough?

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

In corresponding with other grandmothers who are raising grandchildren, I have found that some of us do not laugh enough. One grandmother wrote me a while back saying, "I rarely laugh. I don't remember laughing." I can relate to her. I remember telling my husband the same thing when I was really stressed. "I don't laugh anymore."

Fortunately for me the stress has relieved a bit, and I do find myself laughing with the children again. A couple of grandmothers have expressed how much they enjoy listening to their grandchildren laugh. I love listening to my girls laugh, and I know they enjoy it when I am laughing with them.

It is actually helpful to collect pictures, videos, or even just memories of things that make you laugh and focusing on them when the need arrives. I remember one such memorable event, that would have won an award (I have no doubt) if it had been caught on tape. My youngest granddaughter who lives with me (she was 4 at the time) was playing with my 3 year-old grandson who was visiting. They were riding all around the yard in the children's little electric car. Even though my granddaughter was older, she was much smaller. However, she was a pro at driving this car around the yard. I watched as my grandson took his turn. He was new at it and didn't quite have the hang of it.

I watched him drive in circles and then bump into a tree, back up and go in circles again. The two children were laughing so hard, and I was laughing right along with them. They looked like two little old married people with the husband not knowing what he was doing. When I thought of that, I laughed even harder. That was one of the funniest and cutest things I had ever seen. Unfortunately since it was so spontaneous, I did not have my camera ready. Now he knows how to drive the car better, so no more driving in circles and running into trees and bushes.

I need to learn to have my camera ready more often. But just thinking about it gives me pleasure.

Karen Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
http://www.raisingyourgrandchildren.com/
http://www.blogforhealthyliving.com/
http://www.seniorpro.com/

What's in the Treasure Box?

By Karen Best Wright,  www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com 

A few years ago, I started our Treasure Box. It began to help encourage proper behavior. My treasure box is an antique looking wooden box with a hinged lid and a latch, a box I purchased years ago at a flea market.

In the beginning if the children could go an entire week with reasonable behavior, they could pick something out of the treasure box each Sunday. I made it a point not to be too picky, or they might never get anything out of the treasure box. I would give them a warning if their behavior warranted no treasure box that week. If there was something major, like lying to me, that was an automatic "no treasure box" week.

Since my husband and I  deal differently with certain behaviors, it was decided (I guess I decided) that I was in charge of the treasure box. It was easier and more consistent that way.

The items in the box rarely cost more than a dollar a piece, usually less. I have found some nifty little things for $1 at thrift stores and dollar stores. Sometimes I might even add a $1 bill in the box. It is funny to listen to them try to talk me into letting them pick out of the box on Friday. "Nope, you've gotta wait 'til Sunday," I tell them. They are especially eager when I have added some pretty colored pens, a little porcelain box, angel or miniature vase of some sort, or pink tablets of paper. I never put candy in the box.

My granddaughters rarely have raunchy behavior anymore (they are only 6 and 8), so we now go more by how well they have maintained their bedrooms during the week. A few rules: no shoving clothes under the bed, no eating in the bedroom, no stuffing garbage in drawers, and absolutely no folded clean clothes thrown into the dirty clothes hamper.

It is interesting how such little things, such as our Treasure Box can be such fun for both the girls and me. I enjoy finding fun little items, and they enjoy deciding what they want most, a really pretty pen with feathers on the end or a little porcelain vase for the wildflowers (weeds) they pick in the spring.

Karen Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.SeniorPro.com

Personalized Bookmarks for Kids

By Karen Best Wright, B.S. www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

Down-loadable bookmarks to customize for boys and girls below.

It seems we are always looking for a bookmark in our home. There's a bookmark in the Bible story book, one in the bedtime reading book, one in each book by each bed. Believe it or not, sometimes the girls even disagree over which bookmark goes with which book. 

I too love bookmarks. Perhaps it may seem a bit silly, but looking for a scrap of paper or bending down the corner of a book page is even sillier. Personalized bookmarks are extra fun. The little boy in this sample bookmark is my adorable grandson, who loves to come and visit and have sleep-overs with us.

So this afternoon rather than working, I played. Here is a sample of the "boy" bookmark. I have created one for a boy and one for a girl. The down-loadable images obviously will  not have the photo or name already added. Once you download the bookmark, you can either print it (on card-stock preferably) and glue the picture on it and have the child write his/her name on it, or if you have a graphics program that you know how to use, you can put the picture on it before you print it out. Have the child add any finishing touches by coloring it. When the bookmark is finished, covering it with clear contact paper will make it more durable.

Click here to download a bookmark for a girl.

Click here to download a bookmark for a boy.

My granddaughters are having fun adding the finishing touches to their personalized bookmarks.

Karen Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.SeniorPro.com

The cheapest fun outdoor activity our family ever did.

By Karen Best Wright, B.S. www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

There are so many inexpensive activities we can do with our grandchildren that are memorable. While the grandchildren may love going to the Water Park, that may be a once a year activity, if at all, for many grandparents.

Our children still talk about the hike we took in our neighbor's cow pasture. They loved it. The cows were in a different pasture, but the cow pies weren't. Our neighbor owns hundreds of hilly acres in pasture land. We trekked about an hour up and down hills. The scenery was beautiful, and the girls enjoyed walking around the cow pies. I still think it is funny that this is one of their most cherished memories.

It didn't cost us a dime, not even any gasoline. I of course got permission first from our neighbor. The only requirement was that we made certain to close the pasture gate behind us.

As soon as the weather is a bit warmer, I have promised another hike through the cow pasture.

Karen Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.Blogforhealthyliving.com
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.SeniorPro.com

Thrift store to aid grandparents raising grandchildren

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

In Maui, Hawaii there is a new thrift store that has opened, Keiki Kokua. It is a non-profit organization that offers assistance to foster families, adoptive families, and grandparents and other relatives raising children. They offer various programs and services.

When I read the article in the Wailuku, HI newspaper on-line. I thought "YES." Like I have mentioned in previous posts, we must do something more than wait on the government to provide for those in need.

I hope those who live in or visit Maui will shop at their store and support their efforts and those in need will contact them as well. Their direct website is http://www.keikikokua.org/

I love reading stories like this.

Karen Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com

A College Student at 50

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

I read about an inspiring woman this evening who died at age 92. Margaret Hollon from Clinton County, Ohio lived an inspiring life. She started college at age 50 and completed her Bachelor's degree. She taught school for 17 years and while teaching school, she took college classes at night and during the summer to complete her master's degree.

Now Mrs. Hollon was not raising grandchildren, but she was teaching children in school well into her 60's. She was also involved in many other community activities. I find a woman like Margaret Hollon a wonderful example to all woman who started their careers later in life. To read more about her click here. This link takes you to a Wilmington, Ohio newspaper article.

Karen Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com
www.SeniorPro.com
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

Does your grandchild get headaches?

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

Seldom are headaches in children dangerous or life threatening. Obviously, if your child has a headache along with a high fever, stiff neck, vomiting, difficulty in walking, talking, or has personality changes, seek medical attention immediately.

However, just because a child's headache might not be life threatening, they can be very real and disruptive to childhood. Headaches may be caused by common illnesses, allergies, vision problems, caffeine, improper diet in general, stress, and fatigue. If you suspect the headaches are caused by illness, allergies, or vision problems, again medical attention should be sought.

When headaches are not caused by an illness, allergies, or vision problems, it can be difficult to know why headaches occur, but they should not be ignored. If the child's headaches are caused by stress or fatigue, a loving caring parent/grandparent can give tremendous emotional support to the child.

I can remember as a child getting headaches and terrible leg pains. I think in those days the consensus was that children didn't get headaches unless there was a life threatening disease going on and leg pains were simple "growing pains." I was healthy, my vision was good, so I was given these ridiculous little pink placebo pills (I have no doubt), which of course did nothing.

I still get occasional headaches, which I now have a better idea about what causes them and how to treat them, but not totally. Unfortunately my granddaughters occassionally suffer from headaches as well. Headaches can actually be genetically inherited, fun huh? So when my six-year-old granddaughter is complaining about a headache and her legs hurting, I am very sympathetic. I let her know that I completely believe her, because I too had a lot of headaches and leg pains when I was her age. I do not say, "It's just growing pains."

The other night when I put her to bed, she was very fatigued but could not sleep due to a headache and leg pains. So I sat next to her bed and gently massaged her head and legs and then did my "energy work" on her. This is where I put my hands about 1 -2 inches from her body and let her feel the energy and warmth emanating from my hands. She became very relaxed and within minutes she was asleep. Often when the girls are having a hard time going to sleep, they ask, "Will you do 'energy' on me?" Whether I actually touch them with my hands or only put my hands about an inch from them, they relax and go on to sleep.

So if your child gets frequent headaches or leg pains, make sure there is no serious medical problem affecting them, and if not, watch what they eat. Make sure they are not eating junk food and absolutely no caffeine. Then, be very understanding. Offer massages, soft talking, and a tissue with either a few drops of Lavender or Sandalwood essential oil on it. As they breathe the oils on the tissue, it can be very relaxing.

Headaches are no fun, even for children. A very observant caregiver can be of tremendous help to children who suffer from them.

Karen Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com
www.SeniorPro.com
www.PathwaytoHealthyLiving.com

Operation Grandparents in Pennsylvania

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

Just passing some information on that I came across today:

A website for Pennsylvania grandparents raising grandchildren www.raisingourgrandchildren.org  

There are support groups in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Scranton, Tunkhannock, and Susquehanna County, PA.

They will be having their 3rd Annual Grandparent and Relative Caregiver Conference: "Empowering the Intergenerational Family" on Friday, May 8, 2009.

Valentine Parties at School

By Karen Best Wright, B.S. www.RaisingYourGrandchidlren.com

Some children seem to have no manners, and giving and getting Valentine cards and candy at school can actually become an embarrassing ordeal for sensitive children. My girls took their Valentine candy to school a day early just to find that the goofy little sayings on the miniature candy bars were embarrassing when the little boys said "Oh yuck. I don't want that." So my girls and I had a talk. I let them know very clearly that if someone made some unkind comment about the card or candy they had for them, they were to simply say, "That is okay, I will give it to someone else." We also discussed how they were to be polite whether they liked the card or not. Even if they were to get a "boy" card, they were to just say thank you.

Today when my first grader (who is an extremely sensitive little girl) came home, she announced that today had been a good day. I said, "That's great. What happened today." She proceeded to tell me that when the little candy bar she was going to give one of the little boys was sneered at because of the Valentine saying on it, she responded with, "I'll give it to Izzy instead." And she did, simple as that. I was very proud of her. She did not let the little boy hurt her feelings. She just gave it to someone who appreciated it. Way to go First Grader!

Karen Best Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
Pathway to Healthy Living
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.SeniorPro.com

What is guardianship vs. custody of grandchildren

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com

Guardianship and custody can be very confusing and is something that differs among the states. You really need to find out what exactly your state means by the term guardianship. In some cases guardianship is when you are the personal guardian of an incapacitated person or guardian of their estate.

In some states the guardianship of a child is virtually the same thing as custody. Sometimes a guardianship procedure goes through the probate court and custody goes through the domestic court system. In my state, I have custody of my grandchildren, not guardianship, while another grandmother in a different state who has the same responsibilities as I do, has guardianship.

So while this may not really answer the question, the point is to find out in your state what they mean by the terms guardianship and custody and what term they use when a grandparent is seeking custody or guardianship of a grandchild.

Thanks but no thanks to the lollipop!

By Karen Best Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com

It seems that every time we go through the bank drive-through, the bank teller, seeing children in the car, asks if we want suckers. I just move my head back and forth meaning a definite "no." Sure we eat dessert and sugary junk occasionally, but suckers and hard candy, I really discourage.

 The bacteria in the mouth produces acid for 20 - 30 minutes after being exposed to sugar. So if you eat 3 pieces of candy at once, your teeth will be exposed to acid destruction for about 1/2 hour. If you eat those 3 pieces of candy one at a time 30 minutes apart, the exposure to the acid increases to 90 minutes. Sucking on hard candy also prolongs exposure to bacteria produced acid, which dissolves the enamel that covers the teeth, resulting in dental cavities.

It is much healthier to give the kids a sugar boost by giving them some fruit. If it seems a must to give a piece of candy, give the kind they can eat quickly and then a glass of water to help rinse the sugar from the mouth. Explaining to the children about sticky sugar and acid in the mouth in gruesome details, might just "stick" in their memory banks.

Children need to breathe clean air, free of toxins

By Karen Best Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com

According to a 2007 study by environmental researcher and economist Mary E. Davis, PhD., "Secondhand smoke exposure in children has been proven to cause adverse health outcomes putting children at increased risk of asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, reduced lung function, common cold symptoms (cough, phlegm, wheeze, and breathlessness), ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)."

  "Also many other adverse effects have recently been associated with childhood exposure to secondhand smoke, including cancer, colic, vitamin C deficiency, learning and behavioral deficits, rhinitis, and tooth decay. As such there is no acceptable risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure to children." This study Mary Davis produced about exposure to secondhand smoke supported Maine's recent ban against smoking in cars when children are present.

Mary Davis, PhD., is an adjunct faculty member in the University of Maine School of Economics, an assistant professor at the Department of Environmental and Urban Planning at Tufts University and holds a joint appointment at the Harvard School of Public Health. (May I also mention that Mary is my niece?)

As grandparents raising grandchildren, the health of these children is our responsibility. Not only can we help our grandchildren be healthier but prevention is much more cost effective than unnecessary trips to the doctor's office for ear infections, asthma, common cold systems, and many far worse disorders and diseases.

Even without smoking in our homes and cars, the air we breathe in our homes can be stale and full of toxins. Doing our best to clean heating and air conditioning filters often is important. Additionally using and cleaning quality air purifiers in our homes also helps with removing air-borne toxins.

I know one grandmother who was so concerned about the children's sensitivity to secondhand smoke that she even had the judge add it to her custody court order that the parents were not allowed to expose the children to their secondhand smoke when visiting with the children.

There are so many things that we have no control over when it comes to our grandchildren, but this is one area that we might just be able to control to a large extent.

To read the study "The Economic Burden of Childhood Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in Maine by Mary E. Davis, PhD, click here.

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

What is the "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008?

Basically it is a federal law that is designed to make improvements for children who are in foster care or are about to enter foster care by helping them stay connected to their own families. The law was enacted in October 2008 and signed by President Bush after unanimously passing both the House and the Senate.

On Generations United's website http://www.gu.org, there is a comprehensive 93 page downloadable Q & A document about the Act. As I read over parts of the document, it is apparent that the Act is designed to help children in Foster Care and not children whose grandparents rescued them before Child Welfare Services got involved.

One good thing that is now federal law is if a child is taken into custody by the state, every reasonable effort must be made by the state to contact the child's grandparents and other adult relatives in an effort to have the child placed with family or at least to keep them connected. It is well known that children usually do better in relative care than non-relative care.

However, the financial assistance that will possibly be available to relatives raising these children comes because the state has already gotten involved and removed the children from their homes.

This is very good for many children who can now live with relatives rather than non-relatives, because the relatives are receiving financial assistance to help raise the children. However, it does not help the grandparents and relatives who already have custody and are raising the grandchildren.

Thankfully and hopefully, it will help many children who are not currently able to live with relatives be able to do so.

Financial Assistance for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com

I don't usually like to post on my Blog unless I have something inspiring to write about, but tonight is different. I'm peeved.

I was reading on a national website about the different types of financial assistance for grandparents who are raising grandchildren, financial assistance to help grandparents "make ends meet." Yes, every little bit helps, but most of the assistance is a VERY little bit.

One possible assistance is a child-only TANF grant (temporary assistance for needy families) that might be available and does not go by the grandparents income. It is based on the child's income or any child-support that is received on his/her behalf. TANF is a State/Federal program, so qualifying and the amount of assistance available is not the same in all states.

I had one grandmother from Texas write me. For two grandchildren, she got less than $100/month in TANF for both of them and no daycare assistance. That is a "very" little bit.

I know another grandmother who receives $275/month child support from her son for both of her two grandchildren together. That is $50/month over the limit for her state, so she gets no TANF assistance whatever. And because she does not receive TANF, she also does not qualify for daycare assistance. $275/month for both children disqualified the children for TANF? That's pitiful.

However, it is worth checking with your local Department of Human Services to see what is available in your area. But don't expect much.

In some states, if a grandchild is in the custody of the state and a grandparent steps in as a foster parent or guardian, there is often more financial assistance available. The problem is most grandparents, regardless of their income, step in to rescue the children before the state takes custody.

It is more important than ever, that as grandmothers raising grandchildren, we find ways to supplement our own incomes. Some grandparents have gone back to school to develop new job skills, while others have picked up part-time work they can do from their homes. I met one grandmother from Texas a couple of years ago who ran a flower business out of her apartment. She had a real knack for it. One of her customers was her church who hired her to do their flower arrangements each Sunday morning.

My point? Check out every possible assistance that is available from TANF, Food Assistance, Medicaid for the kids, Earned Income Tax Credit on your income taxes, and possibly starting your own side business. Just don't expect the government to really help much to "make ends meet." As for myself, I'd rather do it myself anyway.

Earned Income Tax Credit for Grandparents

Karen Best Wright, B.S. Community Health Education
www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.BlogforHealthyLiving.com

Do you know if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit? You generally have to be younger than 65, unless you are raising a grandchild. You also must have earned income from a job.

• Those who have two or more dependent children and earn less than $38,646 if single and $41,646 if married and filing jointly.
• Those with one child must earn less than $33,995 if single or $36,995 if filing jointly.

The maximum credit this year is $4,824 for families with two or more children and $2,917 for a family with one child. Even if you had no tax liability to be offset by the credit, (as long as you had earned income) you will get the credit in the form of a refund.

If  your income falls within these guidelines and you are raising grandchildren, be sure to check about getting this tax credit.

Here is an online calculator that helps to determine what Earned Income Tax Credit you might get back. Click here

Building Fun Traditions is Usually Free

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com
www.blogforhealthyliving.com

Some of the traditions that I am building with the grandchildren who I am raising are the same ones I did with my grown children when they were little. Some are new.

Building Traditions:

1. Singing songs while riding in the car. That tradition started when I was a little child, it continued as I raised all of my own children, and it continues with my grandchildren. The old family songs are fun to sing, especially when you record them on a DVD. We sing songs ranging from Found a Peanut, Billy Boy, The Old Family Toothbrush, to a variety of hymns of praise.
2. Every Christmas Eve, friends gather at our home for pie. Everyone brings one pie to share. My what a variety we have. This last year we had about 35 people in our home. This included grown children and their families and also friends. After eating pie, I pass out sheets of Christmas music reminding everyone to ignore the misprints, and we head to the local nursing home and sing and visit with the patients. We travel the halls going room to room. I started this tradition about 25 years ago and have continued over the years.
3. Of course we have the traditional Christmas Eve presents consisting of some type of nightwear, whether pajamas, a robe, or slippers. This is the only gift that is opened on Christmas Eve.
4. New Years Eve is the night the children stay up until midnight and we have breakfast at 12:00 a.m. Happy New Years! Years ago, we would have another family over who would stay the night and we would have waffles, whip cream, and strawberries. Usually now we just have cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. But it is still just as fun.
5. Here is a very simple tradition, who ever is having a special day, whether a birthday or some other celebratory event, uses the special red dishes with honors.
6. Another free-bee tradition is usually once a week when we are having a special family night and dessert, we light an oil lamp, turn off the lights, and pretend that we live in the olden days and enjoy our dessert in the dimly lit kitchen. The girls think this is very coooool.
7. We started a new tradition last spring. Each of the girls and some of our other grandchildren as well, each planted an apple tree. We took their pictures by their tree. The idea is to take their pictures each year by their trees and watch how they both grow over the years. This year when spring comes, we'll see how many trees survived and which ones need to be replaced. We have plenty of room to plant trees. The girls also each planted their own rose bush two years ago. If you don't have room for trees and rose bushes, even potted plants that belong to each child will do just fine.
8. Each night, we read the Scriptures and have family prayer. Whoever's turn it is to read the scriptures also says the prayer. Right now, we are reading from a children's Bible story book. This has helped the girls immensely. When they learn scriptures stories in Sunday School, they already know the story. When we try to put the girls to bed before scriptures, we get reminded we have not read our scriptures yet.

I hope you will leave comments of traditions you have that you would like to share.

Quilting Ranny's February Give-a-Ways

By Karen Best Wright, www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

Check out what's new at Quiliting Ranny's Blog. A grandmother's journey of raising her grandchildren. Click this link to check out her February Give-a-Ways. http://quiltingranny.blogspot.com/2009/02/february-sweetheart-giveaway.html

Good Luck and have fun.

Babysitting vs. Parenting Grandchildren

By Karen Best Wright - www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

Today I was reading online a newspaper article about how babysitting grandchildren can prove difficult for baby boomers. The story was about a couple who babysat their 2 grandchildren for 4 days. The exhausted grandmother was discouraged and did not enjoy the visit very well. She was asking the question about what she should do to not feel resentful toward the children for being so difficult, even though she knew they were probably just being kids. She was the step-grandmother, and apparently the grandfather didn't help much during those four days.

Not to by too cynical, I did have to laugh to myself. Babysitting 2 kids for 4 days sounds like a breeze to me. Maybe it wouldn't have been easy 7 years ago, I don't know. I am quite sure there are tons of you grandmothers out there raising grandchildren that probably would have chuckled at the article as well.

A few weeks ago, two of my other grandchildren came for a 24 hour visit. They are ages 3 and 5. I absolutely loved having them here to play with the 6 and 8 year old granddaughters I am raising and to spend time with them myself. Twenty-four hours was perfect. When grandparents are raising grandchildren and have other grandchildren who want to visit, short visits, hopefully often, can be great for everyone. Bonding can take place with everyone without the exhaustion.