Growing Grandchildren

Recently as I was leaving my driveway on the way to watch my grandson, I suddenly became aware of the weeds that were taking over the flower beds and the grass that had started to creep over the sidewalks edge and I remarked, "I don't have time for you today, I'm busy growing a grandchild!"

As I continued driving to my daughters home, I thought about all the grandparents that I have met over the past year in parks and play areas that are doing the very same thing, caring for their grandchild...

Today, probably more than at any other time in history, there is an enormous amount of people in their 60's and 70's that are not only holding down some sort of employment position but also taking care of their grandchildren over 30 hours a week.  I have lovingly decided to name us the Grandchild Growers, mainly because of the enormity of the responsibility that is resting on our shoulders.

As a child my grandmother took care of me often, but she didn't have another job, she didn't drive, nor have a cell phone to be contacted instanteously and she only lived two blocks away. Our lifestyles have changed with new technology and the demands that we are shouldering have become staggering.  Today's grandparents are more than likely still working at their occupation, filling in at their grandchildren school events when the parents can't get off of work, driving carpool when needed, possibly watching under school age children full time for their own adult children.

This new challenge for so many people of my generation gave me food for thought.  A grandparent site, could provide a much needed source of support for grandparents.  I thought that if I would benefit from learning updated methods for providing care for my grandchildren so would others of my generation.  In the last 30 years, a great deal of improvements have been created in the field of childrearing and the key note to all of this is..."The child I am helping to mold into a responsible, loving adult is only a gift on loan to me from his parents.  I have a responsibility to him and his parents to do the best job ever with the time I am given.  I fail all of us if I don't use all the wonderful new sources for support that have been developed and improved upon since I was the parent raising a child."

This blog will hopefully serve to build support and cement a foundation for all the other adults who are growing a grandchild! Join me daily in my quest to find new places to take your grandchild for an outing, new products to make childrearing easier, new safety tips and the latest in local "off limits area" to help us avoid trouble.