When my grandchildren were living with me, we were in a different neighborhood and the school they attended was about 2 miles away. Either my daughter or I, depending on her crazy work schedule, drove them to school. When my daughter and grandchildren moved, my husband and I didn’t need all the space we had so we downsized to a townhome. The school I was talking about is in the neighborhood of our townhome.

I wish I could say that I do allow myself to feel sad. I wrote about it but really don’t show it. My husband doesn’t handle sad well and I have to work with clients all day and keep my feelings well hidden. If not for writing, I don’t know what I would do because I miss my grandchildren so much.

It seems like more and more grandparents are raising or helping to raise grandchildren. Young adults with families — especially divorced women like my daughter, most of whom don’t seem to get child support — can’t possibly survive on their own. Wages for average people are so low these days and rarely do they have benefits. Grandparents like me can’t afford to retire because we are financing the next generation!