Thursday, December 27, 2018

SHOULD AGING BABY BOOMERS RETIRE?

WELCOME TO BABY BOOMER MEMOS
BLOG #65
SHOULD AGING BABY BOOMERS RETIRE?

By and large, Baby Boomers have shattered the conventional tradition that retirement at 65 is automatic. In fact, a sizable segment of our generation has no intention of ever retiring. Well, maybe ... someday.

Research indicates that boomers should delay retirement as long as possible. Why? Working promotes health. Seriously. Of course, it helps if we like our jobs and co-workers, or at least don't dislike it, or them.

Studies cite these work-related benefits:
~ Employment enhances brain stimulation. When boomers are engaged in work, our brains are forced to be focused and sharp in order to follow instructions, make decisions, complete assigned tasks, and meet deadlines.

~ Employment facilitates social interactions. Workplaces provide opportunities to interact with others, in person. Social connections are a bulwark against isolation and loneliness.

~ Employment structures time. Boomers have someplace to go and something to do. Each workday begins with a purpose and each day ends with a sense of accomplishment. Ideally.

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera ...

NOTE
Despite health benefits, finances influence retirement decisions for most Baby Boomers. Needless to say, financially well-off boomers choose whether to work or retire; all others have to work.

STAY TUNED
Retirement Questions For Boomers ...

CONTACT INFORMATION
Email:  drwendykyman@gmail.com 

Thursday, December 20, 2018

AGING BABY BOOMER GRANDPARENTS SET LIMITS

WELCOME TO BABY BOOMER MEMOS
BLOG #64
AGING BABY BOOMER GRANDPARENTS SET LIMITS

Baby Boomers adore spending time with grandchildren and forming close bonds with them. We 'do our best' to help with babysitting and overall childcare. 

As years pass, aging, health issues, employment status, and assorted commitments increasingly redefine 'our best' and limit our babysitting capability and availability. Our children usually understand. Not always.

Apparently, problems arise for boomers when there are large gaps between the births of first and last grandchildren. Specifically, if our eldest child had children when we were younger, healthier, with more energy and stamina, it was relatively effortless for us to frequently babysit. And, we did.

But, if many years elapse before our youngest child becomes a parent, this child expects us to do as much babysitting for the new babies as we did for our first grandchildren.

In worst-case scenarios, boomer grandparents are accused of showing favoritism to our first grandchildren and neglecting newcomers. Is it insensitive, selfish, or plain ridiculous (perhaps, all three) for our youngest child to not notice that since our first grandchildren arrived we have gotten significantly older, acquired some health issues, and have less energy and stamina?

Solution: Rather than getting defensive, affirm that aging may have decreased our babysitting availability but not our love and affection.

NOTE
Even healthy and fit Baby Boomers admit to passing out from exhaustion after extended babysitting stints with young grandchildren.
This is one of the countless reasons why special kudos go to boomer grandparents who, due to various circumstances, take on the demanding task of becoming full-time guardians to grandchildren. Standing Ovation!

STAY TUNED
Should Boomers Retire ...

CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: drwendykyman@gmail.com

Thursday, December 13, 2018

AGING BABY BOOMER GRANDPARENTS MAKE PLANS

WELCOME TO BABY BOOMER MEMOS
BLOG #63
AGING BABY BOOMER GRANDPARENTS MAKE PLANS

Conscientious Baby Boomers gather ideas and make plans for the future, while the rest of us sporadically think about it.

Boomers with grandchildren often include them in whatever ideas, plans, and thoughts we have. Most grandparents would love to reside near enough to be present in grandchildren's lives. 

That's a wonderful goal ... but has potential complications. 

Complication #1: What happens when our adult children and grandchildren relocate to a different city or state (or country)? Do we follow them? If boomers uproot our lives and settle in a new location, what do we do if children and grandchildren move again?

Complication #2: What happens to married boomers if one spouse wants to relocate with grandchildren and the other refuses to move?

Complication #3: What happens if one child and her children relocate to one region of the state or country and another child and his children relocate to a different region? Where do we go?

NOTE
Rather than following our children's geographical choices, some Baby Boomer grandparents decide to reside wherever we choose and take frequent visits to each child and grandchild's home.
When grandchildren get older, they are invited to our homes for blissfully long visits.

STAY TUNED
Boomer Grandparents Are Not Babysitters ...

CONTACT INFORMATION
Email:  drwendykyman@gmail.com




Thursday, December 6, 2018

AGING BABY BOOMERS AS GRANDPARENTS

WELCOME TO BABY BOOMER MEMOS
BLOG #62
AGING BABY BOOMERS AS GRANDPARENTS

According to an overwhelming majority of Baby Boomers, becoming grandparents is one of the most treasured gifts we receive for getting older. We love, love, love this role.

What boomers do not love (barely tolerate) is being told by our grandbabies' parents - adult children and their partners - that we must obey a list of rules in order to take care of (or in extreme instances be in the presence of) the little ones.

Overall, the rules consist of enlightened diapering, sleeping, and feeding instructions for infants and toddlers as well as approved and forbidden snacks and entertainment for older children. 
Blah, blah, blah ...

If boomers mention the infinite times we diapered, put to bed, fed, and entertained those now setting the rules or suggest beneficial childcare techniques we long ago used on the parents, the mocking begins with versions of 'nobody does that anymore.' It continues with a series of eye-rolls and smirks that culminate with stern admonishments to abandon all old-fashioned, obsolete, outdated, archaic (pick one) techniques.

Generally, boomers forgive the absurdity. Why? Grandchildren are worth it! Plus, let's be honest. Back when boomers were new parents we were probably obnoxious, too. Yup.

NOTE
The top priority for Baby Boomer grandparents is to take excellent care of our grandchildren. But, boomers were never good at listening to lectures and following orders. So, we lovingly tune out and occasionally break ridiculous rules. Shhhhh. It's a secret. Don't tell.

STAY TUNED
Boomer Grandparents Rearrange Future Plans ...

CONTACT INFORMATION
Email:  drwendykyman@gmail.com