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
Showing posts with label grandparents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grandparents. Show all posts
Thursday, December 20, 2018
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
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
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
Thursday, November 29, 2018
AGING BABY BOOMER IN-LAWS GET SHREWD
WELCOME TO BABY BOOMER MEMOS
BLOG #61
AGING BABY BOOMERS GET SHREWD
Let's be candid. Lots of Baby Boomer parents-in-law have lots of complaints. Mostly, we miss alone-time with our kids - either to have private chats, share activities, or just hang out - without their mates being present.
Shrewd parents-in-law advise boomers to quash complaints and build good will by ... spending alone-time with the mates, not our children! If boomers are fond of them, it's easier to make an effort to find common ground and mutual interests.
If we are not fond of our daughters- and sons-in-law, disgruntled boomers are advised to give award-winning performances. In other words, put on a happy face and pretend to be gracious. When the act starts to fade and inner groans float close to the surface, make a graceful exit and go home. Then, and only then, privately release pent-up feelings in a spectacular rant.
NOTE
Is playacting phony? Yes. Is it for a good cause and in our best interests? Yes. Shrewd parents-in-law remind Baby Boomers that our children and their mates will be the parents of our future grand babies and - like it or not - will control access to them. We want unlimited access. Grumble! Grumble! Grumble!
STAY TUNED
Boomer Grandparents ...
BLOG #61
AGING BABY BOOMERS GET SHREWD
Let's be candid. Lots of Baby Boomer parents-in-law have lots of complaints. Mostly, we miss alone-time with our kids - either to have private chats, share activities, or just hang out - without their mates being present.
Shrewd parents-in-law advise boomers to quash complaints and build good will by ... spending alone-time with the mates, not our children! If boomers are fond of them, it's easier to make an effort to find common ground and mutual interests.
If we are not fond of our daughters- and sons-in-law, disgruntled boomers are advised to give award-winning performances. In other words, put on a happy face and pretend to be gracious. When the act starts to fade and inner groans float close to the surface, make a graceful exit and go home. Then, and only then, privately release pent-up feelings in a spectacular rant.
NOTE
Is playacting phony? Yes. Is it for a good cause and in our best interests? Yes. Shrewd parents-in-law remind Baby Boomers that our children and their mates will be the parents of our future grand babies and - like it or not - will control access to them. We want unlimited access. Grumble! Grumble! Grumble!
STAY TUNED
Boomer Grandparents ...
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