Preventing Increase in Pertussis

Virginia Health Commissioner Karen Remley said diseases such as measles and whooping cough haven't been eradicated despite childhood vaccinations, and pertussis is creeping back because adults aren't getting the Tdap booster shot.
Michelle Charters, director of Project Immunize Virginia, said adults think vaccines are for kids. "But grandparents are often caregivers and need to be protected" so they don't spread the virus to young grandchildren.
"Babies will die if parents and grandparents don't get immunized to protect them," Lewis said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults receive a one-time dose of Tdap, especially if they are around preschoolers.

from aarp.org

Free Grandparenting/Parenting Toolkit

Bonding and secure attachment are rooted and flourish in the safety of an environment shaped by caregivers who have the skills to remain both calm and focused much of the time. Not all loving parents or grandparents have these skills, but they can be learned. Helpguide’s Bring Your Life Into Balance Toolkit teaches you the skills you need to create secure relationships with the children under your care.

from HelpGuide.com

Make time for some fun!

 Handprint Bouquet of Flowers

from grandparents.com

 

Flowers are nice, but flowers made of handprints are even better! This craft works well for one grandkid or several grandkids working together.

Involving yourself in activities with your grandchild can build the relationship and increase your child's knowledge. Not to mention the fun! Follow the link below for more activities:

 http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/activities-games-and-crafts/handprint-crafts

Take Care of Yourself

Take Care of Yourself, Get a Support Group

No matter how overwhelmed you feel, take time to get your head above water and see what life preservers are available. Evelyn Phillips, of Marietta, Ga., says she was so consumed by the radical change in her daily life that she didn't ask for help soon enough after her daughter left her four children, all under the age of 5, in her care in 1982. "I felt that no one else could possibly be going through the trials and tribulations that I was going through — running an art gallery and antique shop and taking care of four babies," she says. "But, when I found an online group, all of a sudden I had adults to talk to who, unlike most of my retired friends, actually could relate." Group members helped one another through legal tangles, school dramas, and the occasional "Whatcha cooking for dinner?" quandary.

Set aside some time for yourself daily, even if it's just to take a bath, sit on your porch, play online word games, or dance around the kitchen. Find a babysitter or relative who can help out when you need more than a moment. Go for walks or swims with your grandkids to pass on healthy habits. Get regular check-ups, and be sure to notify your doctor if you feel "blue" or unreasonably exhausted. Evelyn admits this isn't easy. "You become that 'somebody' again.'Somebody' take me to the mall.'Somebody' pick me up from my Scout meeting.'Somebody' sell snacks at my game," she says. "You do it because you want the kids to do what other kids do, but you have to set limits." She and her husband kindly told the school to "cut them slack" on refreshment-stand duty and scaled back on expensive club involvement. She also found a new outlet for her creativity — she taught art to her oldest grandchild's kindergarten class after parenting demands forced her to close her art gallery.

She's also learned that her finest works of art don't need to hang in a gallery. "All my grandchildren are self-sufficient adults who are ready to take care of themselves in this world," she says. "When you've done that, you know you've succeeded."


Find a full database of support groups and services, for you and your grandkids at AARP.org/grandparents. There you'll find state fact sheets for local support groups, legal assistance, public benefits, and state laws.

From grandparents.com

Public Assistance for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Find Out About Public Assistance

Go to AARP.org/grandparents and click on the Benefits QuickLINK box for a benefits eligibility screening that includes information about free health care (offered in most states) and Medicaid. And, don't be ashamed to ask for help, says Opal Buford, who co-founded Grandfamilies with Pat. "Doctors, lawyers — this can happen to anyone, and very few are financially prepared for it."

From grandparents.com

What Your House Can Handle

Know What Your House Can Handle

If you live in senior or subsidized housing and are concerned about whether children are allowed, seek legal advice. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation regarding what constitutes a "family" and who is allowed in certain types of housing, says AARP's Biscarr.

If your current home needs more space, you may be eligible for Housing and Urban Development Home Improvement loan programs listed at Hud.gov. Generations United also has information specifically related to housing at Gu.org.

From grandparents.com

Enroll Your Grandchild in School

Enroll Your Grandchild in School  - Tip 2

Here's where the legal help comes into play. In some states, you'll need legal custody to enroll your grandchild; in others, you simply need proof that the child is living with you.

And, don't let your involvement end at the dotted line. Go beyond paperwork, by talking to teachers, principals, and counselors about your family. Although her 14-year-old grandson "about threw a fit" when she showed up at school with cookies last year, grandmother Piretta Patterson says doing so put a face on her family. "I know if I show up at that school and they see and know my situation, they will call me when something happens," says Piretta, who still volunteers with the school system. "Again, you just have to say, 'This is my situation. I need your help here.'"

From: grandparents.com