Kids, colds and other things

Well, I caught a bad cold from the grandkids but it did not last long.

People blithely suggest that grandparents can take up rearing their grandchildren to free their parents for other endeavors, but we must never forget as we get older that we have less energy and get ill more easily. Chronic medical and sometimes mental conditions force many of us elders to make ourselves and our immediate needs into important priorities. While not at that point, Terry and I must eat well and get enough rest and have the time to pursue our interests and pleasures. And Terry still works, as well.

As any parent of small children knows, one's own needs are always secondary to theirs. Young people can deal with the stress, but this is difficult for older people. And, as my husband likes to point out, "Been there, done that." I love doing things with the grandkids but it would not benefit them or us for us to take  over as primary caregivers. Not that we've been asked to do that! Our kids know us well and know how burned out we are after looking after Terry's mother for all those years.

Too many grandparents I've seen who get recruited into childcare end up increasing their children's burdens by needing care themselves. A younger friend of mine has taken over the care of her grandson and this works well. But another friend of mine who is considerably older got Alzheimers and was wandering around town lost with her grandkid quite a bit until her daughter realized that her mom had lost it. So now this busy professor and mother has to figure out what to do about mom.

I just hope we can continue to look after ourselves and not burden our kids and to lend support to the extent we can.

Getting caught up on my pictures. Here is the view from Alioto's on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, where Terry and I had lunch last week. (As usual, click on pic for enlargement.)

And Greenwaldwonders about Obama's foreign policy. Who is running that show, I ask myself. Will Obama be able to take command ?

Juan Cole is also quite worried.

Comments

[Z]

On the Obama foreign policy, there's also this piece. I never thought it was a good idea to have Clinton as a secretary of state, she's far too bellicose and Amero centric, it only adds to his own failings in these areas.

[Z]

AHA - forgot to post the link - here it is, comparing Obama to LBJ.
http://www.truthout.org/012609R

[Brandon]

I hope you feel better soon. I just got over my own illness.

[Hattie]

Brandon: I'm not getting well as fast as I thought I would. The weather is awful here, just to add to the misery.
I'm homesick for Hilo.

[naomi dagen bloom]

Yes, the grandkids do seem to share their colds. Not so sure the northwest climate more germ-spreading than the east. Hope you feel better but none compares with Hawaii, I guess.

[Brandon]

It's cold here but nothing like the mainland temperatures.

[Gina]

I am raising my second set of child and it is EXHAUSTING to say the least...my youngest was 10 when this one arrived and i was used to peaceful Sunday afternoons at my art desk or in front of the tv...Needless to say, THAT has changed and I am sitting here congested and sniffly from catching her daycare cold...

[Hattie]

I was able to rest and have recovered from the cold the kids gave me, but they are still sniffly, and their moms are still not feeling well.
We totally underplay the difficulties of bringing up children, the relentless day to dayness of it, even when we do have help.