When Grandma's in Charge
By: Nancy | September 04, 2008 | Category: Home and Family
This Sunday is the 30th annual National Grandparents Day. I kind of figured it was a holiday invented by the greeting card companies and florists. But to my shame, it's real. It was started by a West Virginia lady named Marian McQuade, who wanted to draw the younger and older generations closer together.
As I was looking into what government resources there were online for grandparents, I was shocked by a set of statistics from the US Census Bureau: 2.4 million grandparents are their grandchildren's main caregivers and providers. And a majority of those grandparents are under the age of 55. If you're involved in raising or caring for your grandkids or other young relatives in your home, the government has lots of information to help.
You know from bringing up your own children: kids are expensive! If you're financially responsible for your grandkids, check out these tips for making the most of the tax credits you're entitled to if your grandchildren are your dependents. Find out how to pay for their health care and how to be sure they're properly immunized.
If you have young grandkids in your home, childproofing's a must, as is making sure, when you go out, that car seats are the right size and are installed correctly.
USA.gov's Grandparents Raising Grandchildren section is full of even more links from around the government and other sources you can trust, like AARP, for help on everything from finding childcare options to making sure the toys you give your grandkids are safe to helping them as they adjust to moving in with you or your moving in with them.
Got a minute to get sentimental? I'd love to hear some stories about your grandparents or your grandkids. Brag on them a little—what makes your "grands" so grand to you?
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