[MelodyL]

Hi there.

Re your beautiful grandson. This will either add stress to your day, or make it so peaceful. Grandchildren (at least I see this with all of my friends), well, it makes them a completely different human beings. My friend had a lot of trouble with her daughter. She's 27, living yet again with a different guy, and just gave birth. Well, you would think the sun has come up over the rainbow. I met my friend in the supermarket and she said "I have the baby with me this week". I thought to myself 'How can a person give up a baby for the week".?? But it seems that things today are completely different than 40 years ago.

My friend told her daughter "I'm not having the baby on Thanksgiving or Christmas so I want him for this week". The girl said "no problem" handed over the baby and my friend is in joyous moods like I've never seen. I peeked in and there was the most adorable 4 month old little boy smiling up at me. It really does make you feel better, babies, and gooing, and cooing, and just acting stupid around them. It would drop my blood pressure (and I don't even have high blood pressure). What I mean to say is, this (taking care of your grandchild), will either give you joy or and I say this with caution, because I have no idea what your situation is with the mother, it might give you more stress.

This also happened to another friend of mine. Her own daughter told her to care for the baby, promising her never to take the baby away. Well, she had the little girl for 3 years. and everybody went nuts over the kid. The grandmother never filed for guardianship (an important step to be thinking about sometimes). She figured that her daughter was in no position to be making demands so she felt safe. Well, there was no more safe.

The girl came back, took the baby and the grandmother almost lost her sanity. She should have filed for emergency guardianship. See, people don't think ahead, they think in the moment.

So I have no idea what your situation is. It might be temporary. Your grandchild is so lucky to have you in his life. And your 18 year is growing up. At least he's trying. That's good.

Like I said, this new little person in your life can give you hugs and kisses and bring down your blood pressure. Let's hope you feel well enough to put something pretty on, put the baby in a stroller and go for a walk.

The baby will smile and you'll feel better. Babies tend to do that.

So enjoy your grandchild. I wish I had one, believe me.

Melody