Did you know there are more than 70 million grandparents in the United States? I am one of them.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the official proclamation declaring the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. That's the same year I graduated from Ohio University. Never thought much about the holiday since my grandparents on both sides were deceased and I wasn't even thinking about becoming a grandmother at the time.
According to the website, Grandparents.com, 43% became grandparents in their fifties, 37% in their forties, with the average age of grandparents in this country at 48. I becme a grandmother at 49. Other stats:
■72% take care of their grandchildren on a regular basis
■13% are primary caregivers
■60% live close to their grandchildren
■46% wish they could live even closer
■70% see the kids at least once a week
■66% travel with their grandkids
■81% have their grandkids for part or all of their summer vacation
On this day, I say Happy Grandparents Day! I salute every grandparent who has stepped up to the plate, sacrificed and helped make the life of a grandchild BETTER.
Are you one of them?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday, September 05, 2010
The Case of the Lost Camera
Today I am trying to wrap my mind around the fact that someone at my grandson's birthday party yesterday could've walked off with my digital camera.
It's not something I want to believe or accept but today it is missing and the last place I remember having it was on one of the picnic tables at the park. I don't want to believe it because everyone invited was either family or friends.
I would rather believe that the camera was accidentally thrown away during the cleanup and someone just didn't realize what it was.
Nevertheless, all of the wonderful pictures we took at my grandson's 4th birthday on Saturday are now gone.
Thankfully, my grandson wasn't stolen or today I would still be on the hunt or in jail.
It's not something I want to believe or accept but today it is missing and the last place I remember having it was on one of the picnic tables at the park. I don't want to believe it because everyone invited was either family or friends.
I would rather believe that the camera was accidentally thrown away during the cleanup and someone just didn't realize what it was.
Nevertheless, all of the wonderful pictures we took at my grandson's 4th birthday on Saturday are now gone.
Thankfully, my grandson wasn't stolen or today I would still be on the hunt or in jail.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Welcome to the Real World My Child
Last week, my daughter returned to college. Instead of going back into the dorms, she decided she wanted her own place so she shopped around and found a nice little apartment about 10 minutes from campus.
What my daughter has quickly learned is having your own place costs money---especially if you like "new" and not "used" and you must do your homework before deciding on the best place for you.
Here are some of the things baby boomer parents can do to help make off campus life a pleasant experience:
Affordability
What can your college student afford? Help them evaluate their budget so they know how much rent they can afford without overextending financially. You might also suggest they consider a roommate, who can split the bills.
Utilities
Your college student should make sure they check to see what, if any, utilities are included as part of the rent. Sometimes landlords will pay for the water and heat for a tenant, whereas other landlords will not pay for any utilities. There are even a few landlords out there who will pay for all utilities for their tenants. This is something your college student should know before renting so that they can estimate their monthly budget accurately.
Location
When checking out apartments, check the location. It should be close to the campus so no one will have to worry about the long commute to class.
Credit Score/Background Check
If you haven't talked to your college student about credit, now's the perfect time. They need to know that when it comes to renting an apartment, there will almost always be a credit report and background check done on them. This is why places have application fees, because it costs money to run these reports. Have too many unpaid bills, or a history of getting into trouble with the law will result in your child being denied. Also, you should explain about co-signers. Because they are probably a first time renter and don’t have much of a history, they will, more than likelt, need a co-signer on the application.
Read the Lease Before You Sign It
Make sure they read every line of the lease before they sign it--and it would be a good idea if you read it too. This is important because it will contain the rules that the landlord requests by which they have to abide. The lease will contain what pets they can have, if any, what utilities they are responsible for, how much their rent is, when a late fee is charged, and what conditions they can break the lease, if at all.
Renters Insurance
Explain the importance of having renters insurance. Renters insurance is fairly inexpensive. This minor expense will insure their valuables against damage from fire or burglary. It is especially important for them to get covered if they have valuable items such as laptops, stereo equipment, and jewelry.
With some discipline and organization, your college student's first apartment renting experience can be satisfying as well as a huge learning experience.
What my daughter has quickly learned is having your own place costs money---especially if you like "new" and not "used" and you must do your homework before deciding on the best place for you.
Here are some of the things baby boomer parents can do to help make off campus life a pleasant experience:
Affordability
What can your college student afford? Help them evaluate their budget so they know how much rent they can afford without overextending financially. You might also suggest they consider a roommate, who can split the bills.
Utilities
Your college student should make sure they check to see what, if any, utilities are included as part of the rent. Sometimes landlords will pay for the water and heat for a tenant, whereas other landlords will not pay for any utilities. There are even a few landlords out there who will pay for all utilities for their tenants. This is something your college student should know before renting so that they can estimate their monthly budget accurately.
Location
When checking out apartments, check the location. It should be close to the campus so no one will have to worry about the long commute to class.
Credit Score/Background Check
If you haven't talked to your college student about credit, now's the perfect time. They need to know that when it comes to renting an apartment, there will almost always be a credit report and background check done on them. This is why places have application fees, because it costs money to run these reports. Have too many unpaid bills, or a history of getting into trouble with the law will result in your child being denied. Also, you should explain about co-signers. Because they are probably a first time renter and don’t have much of a history, they will, more than likelt, need a co-signer on the application.
Read the Lease Before You Sign It
Make sure they read every line of the lease before they sign it--and it would be a good idea if you read it too. This is important because it will contain the rules that the landlord requests by which they have to abide. The lease will contain what pets they can have, if any, what utilities they are responsible for, how much their rent is, when a late fee is charged, and what conditions they can break the lease, if at all.
Renters Insurance
Explain the importance of having renters insurance. Renters insurance is fairly inexpensive. This minor expense will insure their valuables against damage from fire or burglary. It is especially important for them to get covered if they have valuable items such as laptops, stereo equipment, and jewelry.
With some discipline and organization, your college student's first apartment renting experience can be satisfying as well as a huge learning experience.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
My husband and I are a part of a growing trend in America. We are grandparents taking on the role of primary caregivers for our grandson.
My daughter is a rising junior in college and since school is located out of town, we have agreed to raise him in her absence. We are among nearly 6 million grandparents who have grandchildren living with them. and
Here are more numbers from the Census Bureau about grandparent caregivers:
4-out-of-10 grandparents are responsible for the youngsters basic care.
5.8 million, the number of grandparents who live with one or more of their grandchildren under 18 years old.
4 percent, the percentage of people age 30 and older who live with grandchildren. The rate is 8 percent among blacks and Hispanics.
2.5 million, the number of grandparents responsible for most of the basic needs, such as clothing, food and shelter, of one or more grandchildren with which they live.
21 percent, the percentage of preschoolers who are cared for primarily by their grandparents while their mother is employed or in school.
My daughter is a rising junior in college and since school is located out of town, we have agreed to raise him in her absence. We are among nearly 6 million grandparents who have grandchildren living with them. and
Here are more numbers from the Census Bureau about grandparent caregivers:
4-out-of-10 grandparents are responsible for the youngsters basic care.
5.8 million, the number of grandparents who live with one or more of their grandchildren under 18 years old.
4 percent, the percentage of people age 30 and older who live with grandchildren. The rate is 8 percent among blacks and Hispanics.
2.5 million, the number of grandparents responsible for most of the basic needs, such as clothing, food and shelter, of one or more grandchildren with which they live.
21 percent, the percentage of preschoolers who are cared for primarily by their grandparents while their mother is employed or in school.
Monday, August 09, 2010
When the Saints Go Marching In
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
Based on what I've learned about my grandmother in the last 48 hours, I wonder if that's a song she sang to repent.
I have discovered that my dear sweet grandma wasn't as dear and as sweet as she portrayed herself in her latter years. As a matter of fact, she had quite a reputation in a small Alabama town back in the 1920s. After her husband died, she allegedly found comfort in the arms of other men and ended up having two babies by two different fathers---in addition to the four children she already had.
She took her secrets to her grave---leaving only the gossip about her life to be passed down from generation to generation.
If you want to research your family history, a site I recommend is FamilySearch.org
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
Based on what I've learned about my grandmother in the last 48 hours, I wonder if that's a song she sang to repent.
I have discovered that my dear sweet grandma wasn't as dear and as sweet as she portrayed herself in her latter years. As a matter of fact, she had quite a reputation in a small Alabama town back in the 1920s. After her husband died, she allegedly found comfort in the arms of other men and ended up having two babies by two different fathers---in addition to the four children she already had.
She took her secrets to her grave---leaving only the gossip about her life to be passed down from generation to generation.
If you want to research your family history, a site I recommend is FamilySearch.org
Saturday, August 07, 2010
The Genealogy Search Continues
On Friday I received a letter from the Alabama Office of Vital Records. This was in response to my $35.50 request to receive a copy of my dad's birth certificate so I could see who my grandmother listed as the father.
Before opening the letter I said a little prayer asking God to prepare me for whatever I might read.
This is what the letter said:
CERTIFICATE OF FAILURE TO FIND
STATE OF ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS
OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS
August 4, 2010
I certify that a diligent search of the records in my custody has been completed for the years 1920 - 1934, and no certificate of live birth was found to exist for LEWIS MOTON MAHONE, born July 22, 1926 in Macon County, Alabama, to SAMANTHA CASTON
Signed by Catherine Molchan Donald
State Registrar of Vital Statistics
Another dead end.
Before opening the letter I said a little prayer asking God to prepare me for whatever I might read.
This is what the letter said:
CERTIFICATE OF FAILURE TO FIND
STATE OF ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS
OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS
August 4, 2010
I certify that a diligent search of the records in my custody has been completed for the years 1920 - 1934, and no certificate of live birth was found to exist for LEWIS MOTON MAHONE, born July 22, 1926 in Macon County, Alabama, to SAMANTHA CASTON
Signed by Catherine Molchan Donald
State Registrar of Vital Statistics
Another dead end.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Unspeakable Truth
I spent a good part of my day yesterday searching for clues surrounding the mystery of my father's father.
Because I know my grandmother's maiden name, I was busy trying to find possible relatives who would be connected to her. White Pages and Zabasearch got me only so far by at least providing some recognizable names and addresses, however, the numbers they listed have been disconnected with no new information available.
I then tried to find out more information through the census records--only to find that they send you to ancestry.com, who then turns arounds and makes you pay to find out the information you're looking for.
I did end up paying $35.50 for a copy of my father's birth certificate from the Alabama Dept. of Vital Records. Hopefully, there will be a record on file to shed more light on this mystery.
I don't know what I find more disturbing about this story: The fact that my grandmother, a woman who was crowned a "saint" in her latter years, was fooling around and had TWO children out of wedlock back in the 1920s....or the fact that no one, after all of these years, felt it was important to come clean with their UNSPEAKABLE TRUTH!
Because I know my grandmother's maiden name, I was busy trying to find possible relatives who would be connected to her. White Pages and Zabasearch got me only so far by at least providing some recognizable names and addresses, however, the numbers they listed have been disconnected with no new information available.
I then tried to find out more information through the census records--only to find that they send you to ancestry.com, who then turns arounds and makes you pay to find out the information you're looking for.
I did end up paying $35.50 for a copy of my father's birth certificate from the Alabama Dept. of Vital Records. Hopefully, there will be a record on file to shed more light on this mystery.
I don't know what I find more disturbing about this story: The fact that my grandmother, a woman who was crowned a "saint" in her latter years, was fooling around and had TWO children out of wedlock back in the 1920s....or the fact that no one, after all of these years, felt it was important to come clean with their UNSPEAKABLE TRUTH!
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