BACK TO SCHOOL MEANS BACK TO GRANDMA'S

BACK TO SCHOOL MEANS BACK TO GRANDMA'S

It's that time again! Parents are touting their children around town shopping for school clothes, getting haircuts, fitting in the last doctor’s appointments, yah dah yah dah yah dah! Then comes the phone call, “Hi mom, I need your help again with the kids. School starts on Monday.” After a brief awkward silence that only grandma could hear she utters, “Ughhhh, O-k-.a-y?” What’s a grandparent to say, “NO?”

After the phone call grandma turns to grandpa and says, “I love my grandchildren, but I don’t think I can do this again!”

The reality is that today’s busy working parents need help. With that overwhelming reality hosts new stresses that have reached unhealthy heights for our post-retirement age population. Today, more than ever, stress release is crucial to the health and well-being of all ages, but in particular our grandmas, nanas, and abuelitas.

Grandma, and yes grandpa too, are pitching in “BIG TIME” to make our families’ lives work. With all the time spent out of the home they aren’t enjoying their retirement, home, friends, gardens and tinkering in the garage as they had once planned. At this stage of their precious lives multitasking is now more challenging. Running to school, soccer practice and wherever else we may need them is not as easy as it used to be. In a weary moment grandma must sometimes wonder, ”How did I get signed up for this job?”

Parents here are some things that can help ease the stress:
Buy the groceries that will make up the meals and snacks for your children. Grandparents would love to buy for their babies but they can only support themselves.

Allow time from YOUR schedule to prepare hot meals that can be simply heated up. Grandma spent decades at the foot of the stove and sink. Do ya think she’s done?

Childcare should take place in your own home where everything is familiar and convenient, unless of course she insists on staying home. Also, little jelly finger prints and colorful juice spots on the rugs are probably not a part of grandma’s new age decor.

Keep the childcare hours to a minimum. It may be necessary for grandparents to take and/or pick up children from school. However, don’t hesitate to recruit the help of a young responsible teenager or adult to take over. Yes, that would mean you’d have to pay them!

Time is money and grandparents generally don’t get paid. Fill up their gas tank weekly and throw in a car wash “just because.” There was a time before the grandchildren were born that a tank of gas lasted a whole month!
Offer to clean mom and dad’s house and mow the lawn as a “thank you.”
Grandpa might enjoy a trip to a casino now and then. And grandma could sure use a gift membership to her local Curves! Research has proven that exercise can lower stress. What better way to help grandma accomplish that than by participating in an exercise program designed specifically for women. While lowering her stress she’ll also be building muscle which will keep her strong so she can care for those little ones! We all know that when grandma is healthy and happy -- the whole world is happy too! Showing appreciation is a great way to keep a heart soft and willing.

Structure is crucial. Let the children know there is a schedule. Snack time, homework time, and play time. Don’t forget the good old “time out time!”

Children must be taught to respect their grandparents. This is not a time in your parents’ lives to be challenging their blood pressure and testing their delicate aging hearts. This will also keep the last will and testament from being updated weekly.

Have a smile on your face when you come home. Don’t share the frustrations of your day. Rather, boast to them about how much you appreciate their help. Positive conversation encourages positive feelings and responses. Life is too short to be miserable, right?
On your days off, give grandma and grandpa the day off. They need a vacation too!

Once you retire for the evening, and have put the little angels to bed -- count your blessings. When you feel moved you might write them a nice little love note that reads, “When I count my blessings, I count you twice.”

Life is what you make it. Prepare ahead and keep it simple so that every day can be the joy it was meant to be.

Grandmas love their grandchildren! 