Category Archives: support

Becoming a parent to my granddaughters, again!

Our daughter will be taking a new assignment and that means I am back being a parent to my granddaughters. Its been 5 years since our daughter deployed when her children came to live with us. At that time, my husband and I were totally unprepared for becoming our granddaughter’s guardians. But we love our granddaughters and wanted to be there for them. It’s the same today.

But this time I will be a mobile grandma.Traveling out of state. The kids will be staying with their stepfather and in their home. My son in law is a wonderful person. He was my daughter’s boyfriend when our she deployed, 5 years ago. He stepped in and supported my granddaughters and built a solid relationship. Over the years he has built a good relationship between my granddaughters. But becoming a single parent is challenging for anyone, especially a step dad.

This time I plan on going and staying for extended time very month. I have given a lot of thought about how we need to establish a system, so my granddaughters feel connected to my husband and I again. Along with allowing my son in law time for himself, to rest and know we are here to support him.

How we are going to do this I am unsure, just like 5 years ago. All I know is we love our daughter,granddaughters, and our son in law And we all want our daughter not to worry and her to do a great job.

Our love and faith in God will get us through this.

Happy Father’s day Here’s to those Dad’s raising their children alone

I think our media does not cover how many dad’s are raising their children today.

I have a high school friend of mine Don,who’s wife walked out on him and his children in the late 80’s. Don’s daughter was 5 year old girl and his son was 9 year old boy at the time. Don had a very demanding corporate career at that time and had to adjust his life to balance his career and additional family responsibility. It was so hard for him because he always wanted to married and have a family.

For many years Done was alone raising his children, address all the issues of single parenting, without any support. Most people don’t think of dad’s raising children and mother abandoning her children.

Don divorced his wife. He’s ex-wife was uninterested in being a mother any more, she id not visit her children or contact the children on their birthdays or holidays. Don never spoke badly of his ex-wife around his children. He could have.

Don learned how to braid his daughter”s hair before school. He involved his children in Boy Scouts,Girl Scouts, Soccer, after high school sports. He took his kids camping , and boating. Together they had many fun adventures.

Don remarried while his children were in grammar school. His wife Barbara was as committed to supporting the children, but not wanting the children to feel she was taking the place of their mother.

Don’s children are grown adults now, college grads and both are happily married. I know how grateful they are to their father for raising them and showing his love to them.

Today is Father’s Day, so here is to all those dad’s that took the time to raise and enjoy their children!

How are you spending Mothers Day?

This year is a very different year for our family.

First, our Air Force daughter was to deploy, and that was cancelled, thank goodness! Secondly, my father was to have surgery Friday before Mother’s day, so we cancelled our plans to get together. We thought, lets celebrate Mother’s- Father’s day and combine them together.

Today, my dad’s surgery was rescheduled for next week.

So we have decided to keep the plans for celebrating Mother’s and combining it with Father’s day!

I am learning in life to be flexible, you can celebrate in way you want when it come to holidays.

In the past my family would all get together ( 25 of us) and the guys would make us breakfast for us Mothers. The kids created a menu and they would wait on us like a restaurant. The husband’s did the cooking and clean up. It was fun. But this year combining the Mothers- Father’s day we informed the kids, its all up to you! They are not so sure of this was such a good idea.

My husband Alan, asked what I wanted to do on Mother’s day. My kids are unable to come over. I was not sure, I love bike riding along the beach, swimming in the pool, and going to the movies. I have been thinking maybe this is the weekend we could try out kayaking in the back bay. We have always talked about it trying this out.

No matter what I do I appreciate that I can celebrate having my mom and dad. How you end up celebrating Mother’s Day enjoy the moment!

You can have everyone get involved. You keep the cost done and everyone enjoys being a part of the plans. Or if you are alone just be thankful for what you have today and the memories of the past.