On the heels of the kickoff Sunday of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren(GRG) Holiday Giving Program, this whole topic is on the top of my mind. From the first time I heard of this program, I was sold. Being a grandparent myself, I can’t imagine raising my own granddaughters full-time myself. I had them for 16 hours this weekend, including an overnight, and after having them for that period of time, I am wiped out. But to do it full-time, I can only imagine. And these grandparents who are raising their own grandchildren, are doing so because of untoward circumstances. Some are single raising their own grandchildren, all ages from infant through teenagers. So, yeah, my heart goes out to them.
I am glad that my son and daughter-in-law are raising my granddaughters – 7 and 9 years old, with the phrase “Sharing is Caring” ingrained in their consciousness. So, when our UIN community sort of adopted the GRG program a couple of years ago, I got them involved. From both girls shopping for backpacks for the, grandkids, to Liv at the ripe old age of 6, loaded down with backpacks and school supplies, walking into Metropolitan Family Services to deliver the goods, I have been a proud grandmother. And this July, both Parker and LIv were the deliverers of the backpacks and school supplies.
And they made the gift tags for this year’s Holiday Giving Program, so they got to choose the first 2 tags, choosing a 5 year old girl who wants stuffed animals and games. Who better to choose those for a 5 year old than girls who have already been that age?
So, Sharing IS Caring, and I am thrilled to see how many of the tags are already taken, after the first announcement of this program on Sunday. I am so glad that so many folks are giving to make a difference in the lives of kids, and to put smiles on many faces, and to help these grandparents.
