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Greetings from the Editors...
Welcome all, to the first edition of the Grandparents Newsletter! This is a publication of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG), and its Information and Referral Committee. Along with its website, www.massgrg.com, its purpose is to reach out to the thousands of grandparents and other relatives who have taken on the challenge and responsibility to care for a relative child.
Through the work of the Commission; the many hours of listening sessions, its conferences, GRG support groups, and phone calls fielded by Commission members, we know that parenting can be a difficult experience for anyone. Grandparents and other relatives face special challenges, where age, income, housing, health and other issues often complicate life. Throw in a double "generation gap" and an incredibly complex system of social services, custody laws, and education, and you can see why grandparents often report frustration and isolation.
Yet, and this is the wonder of grandparents and other relatives, they take on these roles willingly. For all of its frustration, caregiving can bring fulfillment and joy (See "Debra's Story" in this edition). Grandparents are dedicated, brave, and loving, and simply put, they save the lives of children.
In this newsletter and coming editions, we will provide information and resources, share stories, help navigate the complex systems grandparents deal with, and promote upcoming events. We will also create opportunities to get feedback from grandparents and other relative families, and educate the public about the amazing role that grandparents play. This newsletter is produced by grandparents and for grandparents. Please remember, it is YOUR newsletter, and we hope you will read it, share it with others and contribute your own questions and stories.
Thank you all for the tremendous work you do!
Kerry Bickford, kbickford81@comcast.net
Skip Stuck, sstuck@familycontinuity.org
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