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Raising Grandkids
Raising grandchildren
can be difficult. After all, you’ve already raised one set of
children to adulthood. You’ve been looking forward to using your
golden years to relax, grow some roses – maybe even learn to
quilt. Instead, you’ve got a toddler running rampant through the
house, or a teenager explaining to you in a bored tone how
“uncool” you are.
Use these tips to
help you raise your grandkids, without losing your mind:
- Seek Out
Support: As soon as you learn that you will be bringing
your grandchildren into your home, begin looking for
support. Look for online resources such as chat groups,
forums, and informational websites. Ask around about books,
support groups, etc. See about lining up a babysitter in
your area for an occasional night alone. This will be a long
haul, so be sure to pick your support team well in advance
- Determine
Eligibility: Next, you’ll want to determine your
eligibility for benefits. You may have to become your
grandchildren’s guardian in order to receive them, depending
on the laws in your state. Check to see if you qualify for
Social Security, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,
Medicaid, and other government benefits. A good site to help
with this is
www.BenefitsCheckup.org
- Remember to
Child Proof: It may have been many years since your
house was toddled around in, so if your grandchildren are
small, be sure to childproof. Lock up all medications, tie
up blind cords, and cover electrical outlets. Be sure that
any breakable knick knacks are put up for now, as well. A
few minutes of your time is a great investment to guarantee
your grandchild’s safety.
- Give Yourself
a Break! You may not have the budget to provide the
newest and best of everything for your grandchildren, but
you can provide them with love. Grandparents have a
reputation for being wonderful at providing love and
affection – and your grandkids wouldn’t be with you if they
didn’t need it. Don’t stress about the material things –
simply lavish your affection on your grandchildren, and
they’ll be sure they thrive!
Raising grandchildren
can be stressful, especially when you’ve already raised on set
of children to adulthood. Take a deep breath, and use the above
tips to prepare for your new permanent houseguests. Seek out
support, both locally and online. Determine your eligibility for
benefits. Take time to childproof your home if your
grandchildren are small. And most importantly, cut yourself some
slack if you can’t afford everything you want to buy. The most
important thing you can provide your grandchildren with is love,
and you have plenty of that!
Marcia Chumbley is a
work
at home mom and grandmother in Minnesota. She
is the owner of a
Christian Work From Home Moms
website
at
Faithful Grannies
http://www.faithfulgrannies.com
bringing generations of
Christian Work From Home Moms,
Grandmothers, Parents, Boomers and Families together
while providing resources, inspiration and affordable
advertising while balancing the work at home experience. She
holds a degree in Business and is a CMOM.
Article Source
CWAHGrandparents.com
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