A huge shout out to all of you raising your grandchildren. To all of you who are struggling, feeling alone, overwhelmed, feeling stigmatized, dealing with your grown, addicted children, or those of you who are doing okay; who have been doing this for awhile and you have a workable routine but would still like to be a part of a group who can relate to you and your everyday struggles and/ or accomplishments, sometimes that being just getting a shower or having a quiet moment to yourself. We are here. We are Joys and Challenges of Relative Caregivers. We are located all over the United States and Canada, and we are only one click away. Regardless of the logistics, we are here for you, and we are family. Our group is located on Facebook. We are not the typical support group. We are not a group of 10,000+ people who post their struggles, asking questions and receiving responses from other faceless members.
We are a close knit community with only 60 members. We are slowly growing, but the numbers do not matter. Our goal is to have folks who are interested in getting to know other members on a personal level, in the way of video socials, and a messenger thread that is always buzzing with activity. There is always someone to talk to, someone willing to have that cup of coffee and have a conversation or just sit quietly and let you get a bad moment off your chest.
We are a group of folks who have been handed the responsibilities of raising children when we should be having long, quiet mornings over a newspaper and a pot of coffee. But those days are gone, along with our lives as we knew them.... forever. It is hard and it is tiring. We are seniors living in the role of young mothers. Our mind says we can do it while our bodies are screaming out in protest. We cannot and should not have to do this alone. We need a village.
If you need an ear, or some sound advice, or if you need to "get away" for a little while. If you need a laugh or just the company, we are here.
We have social evenings where we play games and chat via our messenger thread, playing Yahtzee, Rummikub, Spades, UNO, and other games. We truly enjoy each other's company and there is always someone there to talk to.
In April of this year, myself and four other members planned and attended a weekend getaway at a lake house in North Carolina. I have visited with three members in Phoenix and Ohio and a member from South Carolina visited us for a weekend at our home.
We all compiled a recipe book with recipes from our members' own kitchens. There was no profit made and they are available online for anyone to purchase.
In October of this year, myself and another member who lives in New York are flying to Phoenix to attend an adoption party of a member and her husband who are adopting their infant grandson.
So, as you can see, out group is unique and special. We are about support, kindness and love. We do not judge. We are all on a journey, and each journey is the same, but different. What may be the right thing for one of us may be completely wrong for someone else. These differences are part of who we are and they are acknowledged and respected by each member.
If this sounds like a place you would be interested in, please contact me at my email address so that I can give you the information you need to become a part of something special, something beautiful.
And please know, above all else, you are not alone.
Catherine Becker: YOUARENOTALONE.GRG@GMAIL.COM