A big change occurs in the home when your kids head off to college.  Sometimes they live at home and attend a local institution.  However, the majority move out of the home and attend college at a distance.
This happened with our daughter and now our granddaughter, who leaves soon for college 400 miles away.  This is a great adventure for her and will make a change in our multigenerational household.
We’ll miss her, yes, as we did when our daughter went 600 miles away 25 years ago.  But I wasn’t devastated.  (I began to feel guilty when people suggested that I …read more

When I wrote about grandparents parenting, one of my readers related the joys she’s experienced caring for a grandchild.
Janet shared:
I took care of my grandson from the time he was six months until he was 2 1/2 while his mom returned to work. It was an absolutely wonderful experience. I am so happy that I had the opportunity to bond with him and to watch him grow.
I watched him crawl for the first time and take his first steps and I helped to potty train him. I will remember these important firsts the same as I remember my own …read more

When grandparents are involved in parenting roles, whether temporarily, full time, or with a parent, they’ll find many joys:

Looking at the world through the eyes of a child again.
Finding flowers wild and in gardens
Taking walks at a child’s pace
Collecting stones to skip on the water
Finding awe in a bird building its nest
Struggling through math homework and seeing the child’s face light up when he “gets it.”
Learning computer skills because grandchildren expect you to be up to date
Experiencing birthday parties, putting up a Christmas tree, capturing leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day, coloring eggs at Easter,  planning  surprises and so much more.

What …read more

Grandparents often become involved in parenting roles with their grandchildren. These take many forms, and there are rewards and challenges to each of them.  However, in my case (living in a multigenerational home), I’ve discovered the rewards far outnumber any inconveniences.
Grandparenting/parenting situations:

Grandchildren living with grandparents and parents in a multigenerational household, as has been the case in our home, for 13 years.
Grandparents caring for grandchildren temporarily when there has been a parent illness or parent(s) away on military or job assignment
Grandparents babysitting while parents work.
Grandparents having adopted or acquired guardianship of grandchildren because the parents have died or cannot …read more