Grandparents Raising Children Support Group
This community is dedicated to grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. In cases where the parents are not willing or able to provide adequate care for their children, grandparents may take on the role of primary caregivers. Join the support group to find support, share your experience, and get advice from other members.
I work from home full time. . I started working from home back 2005 when we got guardianship of the oldest GD. You might think this is easy as I don't have to pay for daycare, but in reality it isn't. We took GS/S out of daycare in Dec. Health issues have improved so much I have him off all breathing treatments!
My job is sales on the computer side. I work with a lot of IT Consultants building data bases for their clients and general computer sales. I should be able to speak on the phone freely with anyone who calls, but since GS/S is home I have to wait in between naps and or squeeze in a phone call when he is quite. He is only just 3 and is learning when I'm working on phone to be quite, yet I know he is still in that demand age zone, so I try to make my call backs during nap time. I do take time away from work for us to play outside and read, I don't want him to miss out on any learning he'd get if he was in Daycare.
I feel so isolated... My social skills suck! I know this will happen to him as well if I can't supply play dates with children his age! I work, take care of kids, house, bills and extra activities. I feel like I'm going to explode at times! Granted it was much easier with one child, now I have three all five years apart. In some ways I'd thought things would be easier since the age difference is so grand, but it's not. I am being pulled from all directions. My husband is working later and later, to the point I feel like a single parent. My husband isn't doing the working late on purpose, I know this...His company he works for got hit hard with work after the winter storm and rain we had.
I have to let something go, but I'm not sure what. If we take the tax return we will be getting, I can pay all bills off and not work. My thought on this is I can take GS/S to the park and he can meet other children his age for socialization. It will also get me out of the house and away from the four walls I have been so friendly with for years. Problem is, the return was promised to my husband to build a work shop, so he can make extra income projects at home.
The one thing I know, I can't get rid of the kids. I can't keep up like I have been trying to do and I don't know what to do!
My job is sales on the computer side. I work with a lot of IT Consultants building data bases for their clients and general computer sales. I should be able to speak on the phone freely with anyone who calls, but since GS/S is home I have to wait in between naps and or squeeze in a phone call when he is quite. He is only just 3 and is learning when I'm working on phone to be quite, yet I know he is still in that demand age zone, so I try to make my call backs during nap time. I do take time away from work for us to play outside and read, I don't want him to miss out on any learning he'd get if he was in Daycare.
I feel so isolated... My social skills suck! I know this will happen to him as well if I can't supply play dates with children his age! I work, take care of kids, house, bills and extra activities. I feel like I'm going to explode at times! Granted it was much easier with one child, now I have three all five years apart. In some ways I'd thought things would be easier since the age difference is so grand, but it's not. I am being pulled from all directions. My husband is working later and later, to the point I feel like a single parent. My husband isn't doing the working late on purpose, I know this...His company he works for got hit hard with work after the winter storm and rain we had.
I have to let something go, but I'm not sure what. If we take the tax return we will be getting, I can pay all bills off and not work. My thought on this is I can take GS/S to the park and he can meet other children his age for socialization. It will also get me out of the house and away from the four walls I have been so friendly with for years. Problem is, the return was promised to my husband to build a work shop, so he can make extra income projects at home.
The one thing I know, I can't get rid of the kids. I can't keep up like I have been trying to do and I don't know what to do!
I had just gotten my first on-site full-time job in 20 years when we got our three grandkids to raise. My husband had just retired, but he has been working weekends for his old boss ever since. So he took them to the daycare every day for four years.
Then I got laid off (thank God) and went back to working at home, but the kids were older (the eldest was 8, the youngest 6). It was SO much easier because they really did understand when they had to disappear and be quiet when Mom-Mom is on the phone.
It will get better, but it will also take time. Do you have anyone who can watch him even for a morning or afternoon?
The social part I don't understand because I'm basically someone who craves being alone. That sounds awful, doesn't it? I do love my girls nites out and occasional lunches, but other than that I am thoroughly happy with my own company, so working alone at home is a blessing...Although I do Facebook an awful lot, HAHAHA!
If there's ANY way you and your husband can hang in there until he's ready for preschool your life will improve dramatically - at least for several hours every day. Maybe you can use part of the return for partial day care?
I will be letting my employer know at the end of the month I'll be leaving. I think visits to the park will allow socialization for my GS/S until he gets old enough for pre-school. I just saw a new neighbor who has a daughter the same age living up the street that I will introduce myself and GS/S to as well. My parents never had us kids in daycare and I nevere had my kids in day care, but we always had something to do and someone to play with! Thank you all so much for your input!
Several years ago I also made the choice to leave a thirty year career (the only job I ever wanted to have since I was six years old) in order to raise my grandson. It was the best move for both of us. He received the constant attention and most important stability that his life had been missing. I am very similar to Daisy. As I have become older I have become much less social as an individual and more into dealing with my other two great kids and their families. During this time of retirement I became great friends with the mail lady, UPS man and the manager of the grocery store. LOL
Once they are going to school and in sports you will be surprised how different your life becomes. You are able to accomplish so much while they are in class and your social interaction with adults will increase dramatically. Life does get better. (the Bios will keep screwing it up for you on occasion, but for the most part life will get better).
Give it time and hang in there. You are doing the best thing and God bless you.