Welcome to Issues and Answers.
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Did you know that in the most
recent census bureau statistics
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2.4 million of
the nation's families
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are maintained by grandparents
who have one or more
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of their
grandchildren living with them,
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an increase of 400,000,
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which is about 19
percent since 1990.
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These families comprise
7 percent of all families
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with children under 18.
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Across the United States
almost 7.8 million children
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are living in
homes where grandparents
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or other relatives are
their household providers
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with more than
5.8 million children
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living in grandparents' homes
and nearly 2 million children
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living in other
relatives' homes.
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These families are often
called now grand families.
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And now here to talk about
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this very topic
of grand families
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is Moletta Robinson
who knows firsthand.
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Welcome to the program.
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So glad you could
come, Sister Robinson.
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So glad to be here.
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So tell us about the
whole grand families concept.
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Did you expect that you
would have your grandkids
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at this stage in your life?
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Never.
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That was not my plan.
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My plan was to raise my children
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and have them
over to play with them
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and have fun
with them and goodbye,
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send you on your way back home.
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Right. But that
was not the case.
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So now you grew up where?
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You grew up in Washington, D.C.?
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I grew up in Washington,
D.C. I loved Washington, D.C.,
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it's a wonderful town
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and I moved here to
Memphis about 26 years ago.
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Okay, and where do you work now?
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I work at FedEx.
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Okay. That makes
Memphis hub, right?
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FedEx. So your
life is pretty busy.
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It is very busy.
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It was very busy
before I got the children
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and it's busier
now that I have them.
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Okay, so now tell us the story
about how this all came to be.
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How old were the kids
when they first came to you
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and how many grandkids...
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First of all how
many children do you have?
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I have two children... Okay.
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And I'm the biological
grandmother of six children.
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But of all the Children,
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I'm a
grandparent of 12 children.
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Oh my, wow!
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Because it's a blended family.
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All these children, my
children, then the parent,
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mothers have children
so all of these children.
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So you have 12 grandchildren
and do you keep up with all 12?
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I do, I keep up with
all 12 of my grandchildren.
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I show no
difference in my children,
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my biological grandchildren
nor my other children.
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They're all my
grandchildren. I love them all.
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Okay, so like you
said you were expecting
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to be at the point
where you would love
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all these
wonderful grandchildren
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and then send them
home to their parents.
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Yes. But now what happened?
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How many of your
grandchildren are with you?
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I have the two
youngest children with me now.
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And how old were
they when this happened?
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Well, the first
time they were young,
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they were two and four.
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The first time I had
them, I had them for six months
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and that was because
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their mother
was in the hospital,
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she was hospitalized.
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And that was the
reason I had them then.
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And then when she got out
she got her children back.
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Now are these your...
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Is these your
daughter's children
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or are these
your son's children?
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These are my son's children.
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Okay, but the mother
wasn't able to take care of them
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and the son wasn't
able to take care of them,
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so what would
have been your choice
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if you didn't take care of them?
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What would have
happened to them?
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They would have
been in foster care.
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They would have
been in foster care.
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So when they came how was it?
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Were they happy,
were they regular kids?
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What kinds of
things did you have to do
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to take care of
them, working still?
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Well the first thing I
had to do was find day care
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for the little
one, the two year old.
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I had to find day care
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and then the
elder one was in school
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but the school was like...
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It was about 10
miles from where I lived.
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Because that's
where the mother lived
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so she had the children
in the school near her home
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and I kept the child
there in that school.
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So every morning my day started
at 6 o'clock in the morning
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taking the little
one to the baby sitter
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and then taking her to school
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and picking them up
from school and the day care.
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So I had an
active life at that time
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but it was like temporarily,
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so I was not like getting all...
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But this time it was different.
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So what happened,
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so they're going
back to the mother?
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Yes.
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And how long did they
stay there before they...
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They stayed with their
mother till the older one
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was nine years old,
she was nine years old.
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So they were like
five, six, seven years
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staying with their mother?
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Yeah, they were
with their mother.
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And you thought
life was going to be good
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and you were back
to your normal life.
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Normal life, that's
right. Then what happened?
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Until the mother came one day
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and she said I can't take
care of these children anymore.
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I said, what do you mean
you can't take care of them?
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She says I cannot
take care of them,
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I just can't do it.
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And so because I knew
the mother had her issues,
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I said, well, fine, then
they'll have to come here
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and stay with me.
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And they did. They
came, both of them.
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And this was last
summer when I said,
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oh, I have to find some
place for these children to go
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because school was out,
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so what am I going to
do with these children?
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This was last
summer, this is recent, okay,
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when you just got
these kids in other words.
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Yes. Okay, go ahead.
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So last summer at the
Seventh-day Adventist School
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they had a summer program
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so I knew I wanted
to put them in there,
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the summer program
because I wanted them
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to be around other
children and be around people
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that had very
positive attitudes,
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and I knew this
was the place for them.
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And I went to the
school and I asked them
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and they said, well,
that's going to be $200 a week.
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I said $200 a week.
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I said, well, God is able
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and he wants these
children at this school
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and that's where I
put them for the summer
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and they had a ball.
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They loved it.
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Grandma, can we come back,
can we come back to school.
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We want to go to school here.
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I said, well, God's
able and I was blessed
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because these children had been,
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they were children that had had
a lot of stress in their lives
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which I didn't
know about, I didn't.
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At the time I did not
know about a lot of the things
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that they had gone through
because just like a grandparent
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you only see your children like,
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I only see about once or
twice a month at that time,
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and so I really didn't
know the type of condition
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they were living under.
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What kinds of...
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If you don't mind sharing,
you know, when you found...
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When the kids came to you
and the mom said, that's it,
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I can't do anymore.
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What state were they
in, emotionally, socially,
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where were they?
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They were very kind of withdrawn
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but they also were very
behind in their school work.
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I found that out.
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I mean, my little granddaughter
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who was 10, I
said, let me read to you.
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We were reading in the
evening. I said read this story.
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She says,
"Grandmother, I can't read."
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I said, "You can't read!
I says sure you can read."
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She says, "I can't read."
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And I gave her a book
and she really couldn't.
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She knew no phonics.
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In fact my
daughter had her tested
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and she tested
below the tenth grade,
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I mean at the kindergarten level
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which she's in the third grade.
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And that was of
very much concern to me.
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I was very concerned about that.
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And then I had
found out that her mother
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had given them drugs.
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She had given them Benadryl
to put them to sleep at night.
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And so that was
kind of disturbing to me
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and one of the
reason I thought maybe
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this had helped them not to...
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Her not to develop
and learn how to read
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other skills that
a 10-year-old child
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should be able to do.
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So now you not
only had grandchildren
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but then they were both
of them were special needs,
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they needed certain
things to help them.
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What about the
son, the grandson?
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Well, he wasn't as bad as her
because I think he hadn't been
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given Benadryl as long and
he was an active little boy
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so he just
rolled with the punches.
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Things did not bother him
or things that he saw, I guess,
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he just let it go,
whereas my granddaughter
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it stayed with her.
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She remembered things.
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And so it was
little difficult for her.
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But they loved coming to me.
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I said would you
like to say with grandma.
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Oh, grandma, can we stay,
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we want to stay
here forever and ever.
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So they were really
excited about living with me.
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And I had to learn
how to change a room,
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take away things.
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You know there's a
certain age you have your house
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at a certain age not
child-safe as I called it.
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Right.
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So I had to take another room
and take all the furniture out
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and put kid's furniture in
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and they helped painted the room
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so they were having a good time.
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I said this is your room now.
They said we have our own room.
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I said this is your
room, we can paint it
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any color you want to
and they were so excited.
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They just took paint
and splashed it all over
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and had a great time.
00:10:15.18\00:10:17.08
And they say, we can do this?
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I said, you can do
it, it's your room.
00:10:18.75\00:10:22.02
And so they have really matured
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and as I say, I put
them in the Adventist school
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and that has helped them a lot.
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Praise God for that.
00:10:32.26\00:10:33.80
But grandmother had to
learn a lot her own self.
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Oh, yeah.
00:10:37.50\00:10:38.83
I had to learn that grandmother
00:10:38.87\00:10:40.67
didn't know how to
do first grade math.
00:10:40.70\00:10:42.60
And I said, I said...
00:10:44.81\00:10:47.84
When they went to school
I said, what kind of math?
00:10:47.88\00:10:50.28
Two plus two is four and he said
00:10:50.31\00:10:54.25
but we didn't do it
like that grandma, teach it.
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I said two plus two is four.
00:10:56.58\00:11:00.02
They had the
circles and the squares
00:11:00.06\00:11:02.52
and all these things and
I had to go to the teacher
00:11:02.56\00:11:05.26
and have the
teacher explain to me
00:11:05.29\00:11:06.83
how to get two plus two is four.
00:11:06.86\00:11:10.33
From the new math,
00:11:10.37\00:11:11.70
all these
methods and strategies.
00:11:11.73\00:11:13.64
And the computers
and the iPods and iPads.
00:11:13.67\00:11:16.91
So you bought all those things?
00:11:16.94\00:11:18.34
I had to buy
all of those things.
00:11:18.37\00:11:19.77
Now why do think
you had to buy all that?
00:11:19.81\00:11:21.24
Tell me why you
were buying those.
00:11:21.28\00:11:22.61
I mean this is like kind of over
00:11:22.64\00:11:23.98
and beyond regular even.
00:11:24.01\00:11:26.08
It was to help them to learn
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because of this
is the world now.
00:11:30.49\00:11:33.46
There are computers
and they have to learn
00:11:33.49\00:11:37.06
the computers at school,
00:11:37.09\00:11:39.39
so they needed all
these things to help them grow
00:11:39.43\00:11:42.26
and to help them
develop and learn.
00:11:42.30\00:11:44.83
So it was a challenge
when I went to the store
00:11:44.87\00:11:47.87
and found out $400.
00:11:47.90\00:11:50.24
Whoa, $400!
00:11:50.27\00:11:52.51
For one and I had to buy two.
00:11:52.54\00:11:55.31
But it was truly a blessing,
it really was to do this.
00:11:55.34\00:11:59.41
So now, what did you learn...
00:11:59.45\00:12:02.32
Thank God that you had a house
00:12:02.35\00:12:04.45
that you could
bring the kids into.
00:12:04.49\00:12:06.76
What about budget wise?
00:12:06.79\00:12:08.16
You know how has that
been working financially
00:12:08.19\00:12:10.33
to be able to
take on two more kids?
00:12:10.36\00:12:13.09
Do you get help
from the state with that?
00:12:13.13\00:12:15.03
No, I don't. You don't?
00:12:15.06\00:12:16.73
No, I do not get
anything from the state.
00:12:16.77\00:12:20.04
My philosophy is
these are my grandchildren
00:12:20.07\00:12:22.57
and I love them.
00:12:22.60\00:12:24.47
I've raised my own children.
00:12:24.51\00:12:25.84
I have been a single parent,
I've been a married parent.
00:12:25.87\00:12:29.71
So it didn't bother me.
00:12:29.74\00:12:32.18
I did have to
make some adjustments
00:12:32.21\00:12:34.22
because I said, I'm
almost 70 years old.
00:12:34.25\00:12:37.32
I'm getting ready to
retire and everybody would say,
00:12:37.35\00:12:39.99
you should have been retired.
00:12:40.02\00:12:42.79
But it has been a challenge
00:12:42.82\00:12:45.43
but God has just
been blessing me so much
00:12:45.46\00:12:49.03
and my church family
has just helped me so much.
00:12:49.06\00:12:52.93
So it's truly been a
blessing with these children.
00:12:52.97\00:12:56.94
Not only have they
helped me, they've come over
00:12:56.97\00:13:00.11
and done things
with the children.
00:13:00.14\00:13:03.01
They say, oh, I'll
pick the children up
00:13:03.04\00:13:05.38
and take them to the park.
00:13:05.41\00:13:07.42
So it's been a blessing. Wow.
00:13:07.45\00:13:10.95
So now I hear
sometimes that you talk about
00:13:10.99\00:13:13.96
taking vacations,
are you able to take...
00:13:13.99\00:13:15.92
Before you had grandkids
you were able to travel.
00:13:15.96\00:13:18.29
How about since the
kids have been there?
00:13:18.33\00:13:19.79
Have you guys been
able to travel anywhere
00:13:19.83\00:13:21.43
or go on a vacation?
00:13:21.46\00:13:23.50
Not like I did before.
00:13:23.53\00:13:25.03
That has definitely,
because I would get up
00:13:25.07\00:13:27.44
and get on the plane and
fly to Washington, fly all over.
00:13:27.47\00:13:32.14
So you fly FedEx.
00:13:32.17\00:13:33.58
At that time I
could but I can't now,
00:13:33.61\00:13:36.81
but you have to plan
your day around school time,
00:13:36.85\00:13:41.12
what time the school
is out, for vacation,
00:13:41.15\00:13:44.85
what time the school
is out for spring break.
00:13:44.89\00:13:47.66
So it has been an adjustment
00:13:47.69\00:13:49.59
that you have to learn
how to adjust your time
00:13:49.62\00:13:54.13
according to the
children's schedule.
00:13:54.16\00:13:56.67
So what's a
typical day like for you?
00:13:56.70\00:13:58.73
Getting up at 4
o'clock in the morning.
00:13:58.77\00:14:00.94
Really? Yes, I get up.
00:14:00.97\00:14:02.40
Who gets up? You do?
00:14:02.44\00:14:03.77
I get up at 4
o'clock every morning.
00:14:03.81\00:14:05.14
What do you do at
four in the morning?
00:14:05.17\00:14:06.51
Washing, cooking, cleaning,
getting the children prepared.
00:14:06.54\00:14:10.71
I do everything I
have to do in the morning.
00:14:10.75\00:14:13.85
The children have to
be to school at 8 o'clock,
00:14:13.88\00:14:17.45
they arrive at...
00:14:17.49\00:14:19.19
I leave the house
about 7:30 in the morning
00:14:19.22\00:14:23.19
to take them to school.
00:14:23.22\00:14:25.09
And then I take them to
school and then I go to work.
00:14:25.13\00:14:29.30
And after that I pick
them up from school at 3:10.
00:14:29.33\00:14:34.14
And we go home.
00:14:34.17\00:14:36.30
That's why I have
dinner already prepared.
00:14:36.34\00:14:38.74
I have everything prepared
because it is a challenge
00:14:38.77\00:14:41.88
for the children to get
their homework in the evening
00:14:41.91\00:14:46.38
because they were so far behind.
00:14:46.41\00:14:47.92
But the teachers at the school,
00:14:47.95\00:14:50.69
they have been so
excellent working with me,
00:14:50.72\00:14:53.25
showing me what to do,
00:14:53.29\00:14:55.09
teaching me things
that will enlighten
00:14:55.12\00:14:58.19
to stimulate the
children to learn.
00:14:58.23\00:15:00.63
So that has really been a
very positive aspect of me.
00:15:00.66\00:15:05.63
That has really
helped me with the children.
00:15:05.67\00:15:08.84
Well that's
great, that's wonderful.
00:15:08.87\00:15:11.14
So now, tell me
about your support.
00:15:11.17\00:15:14.51
What do you do to take care
of yourself as a grandparent?
00:15:14.54\00:15:18.08
Do you have friends or...
00:15:18.11\00:15:19.91
I have friends,
00:15:19.95\00:15:22.22
but the best
thing for me is to...
00:15:22.25\00:15:24.79
when I get up
early in the morning
00:15:24.82\00:15:26.45
to have time with God.
00:15:26.49\00:15:28.39
That is the main
thing. And He helps me.
00:15:28.42\00:15:30.26
He gives me strength,
because sometimes you feel like
00:15:30.29\00:15:34.23
I have so much to do.
00:15:34.26\00:15:36.67
But He gives me
strength so I always take time
00:15:36.70\00:15:40.04
the first thing in the
morning to talk to God,
00:15:40.07\00:15:43.34
to read my Bible and to prepare
00:15:43.37\00:15:45.81
and ask him for the
strength I need for that day.
00:15:45.84\00:15:49.24
So that has really
helped me and like I said.
00:15:49.28\00:15:52.01
Also I depend on
my church family.
00:15:52.05\00:15:57.12
How do they help?
00:15:57.15\00:15:58.92
Tell me a little bit more about
how your church family helps?
00:15:58.95\00:16:00.79
My church family has
helped me tremendously.
00:16:00.82\00:16:04.06
Some have come up to the school.
00:16:04.09\00:16:05.89
I said this child is
having problems in this area.
00:16:05.93\00:16:09.96
Because a couple of them
had been school teachers.
00:16:10.00\00:16:13.67
So they said will
I'll go to the school
00:16:13.70\00:16:15.90
and see, and they
have been up there
00:16:15.94\00:16:18.77
and helped and have
stopped by the house.
00:16:18.81\00:16:21.78
They helped with
the homework and all.
00:16:21.81\00:16:24.21
So that has been a
great benefit to me.
00:16:24.25\00:16:27.02
It's really
been a blessing to me
00:16:27.05\00:16:28.85
to have the support
of my church family.
00:16:28.88\00:16:34.16
They reckon helping me
has been a great help to me.
00:16:34.19\00:16:38.13
What about your job.
00:16:38.16\00:16:39.49
What kind of adjustments have
you had to make on your job?
00:16:39.53\00:16:42.50
How's it been for you there?
00:16:42.53\00:16:44.77
Talk about money.
00:16:44.80\00:16:48.47
I work but I couldn't work.
00:16:48.50\00:16:52.27
I said I have to this, I
had to take off from work,
00:16:52.31\00:16:54.81
which I usually work
until at least about 4 o'clock.
00:16:54.84\00:16:58.71
I said I can't work
till 4 o'clock any more.
00:16:58.75\00:17:00.52
I told my manager.
00:17:00.55\00:17:01.88
And it's truly been a blessing
that God just opened up the way
00:17:01.92\00:17:04.75
because I said, I have
to leave at 2:30 every day.
00:17:04.79\00:17:08.62
I have to leave at 2:30.
00:17:08.66\00:17:09.99
You're the person that picks
up the kids too from school.
00:17:10.03\00:17:11.83
Yes, so I had to leave my job.
00:17:11.86\00:17:13.80
I had to get off my job at
2:30 which used to be at four,
00:17:13.83\00:17:18.33
to pick the
children up from school,
00:17:18.37\00:17:21.04
so that has really been,
which has cut into my finances.
00:17:21.07\00:17:26.57
That's right because I
don't have the time working
00:17:26.61\00:17:31.45
as much as I had worked.
00:17:31.48\00:17:33.82
But God still
has provided for me.
00:17:33.85\00:17:35.98
I'm just grateful
that he has truly.
00:17:36.02\00:17:38.55
I don't know where it
comes from but every day,
00:17:38.59\00:17:41.69
every month we...
00:17:41.72\00:17:44.36
In fact someone
said you should go
00:17:44.39\00:17:46.59
an get you some food stamps.
00:17:46.63\00:17:48.30
You're eligible. I said really.
00:17:48.33\00:17:51.80
Since you have these children
you should get you some help.
00:17:51.83\00:17:54.60
I said I do have help.
00:17:54.64\00:17:56.24
God helps me every day. Wow!
00:17:56.27\00:17:59.31
And so this is
just truly a blessing
00:17:59.34\00:18:01.64
that God truly has helped me.
00:18:01.68\00:18:04.25
People have given me...
00:18:04.28\00:18:05.61
People have given,
the kids wear uniforms
00:18:05.65\00:18:08.72
and people have
given me uniforms
00:18:08.75\00:18:10.92
for the children
to wear to school.
00:18:10.95\00:18:13.12
So it's truly a
blessing when you depend on God.
00:18:13.15\00:18:17.43
That's right, that's right.
00:18:17.46\00:18:19.19
So tell me some special memories
00:18:19.23\00:18:20.90
now that the kids are with
you what are some special things
00:18:20.93\00:18:24.50
that you guys have done,
just you and the grandkids,
00:18:24.53\00:18:27.37
just this set of grandkids?
00:18:27.40\00:18:28.74
And then how do you now manage
00:18:28.77\00:18:30.31
with the rest of
your other 10 grandkids?
00:18:30.34\00:18:32.44
Yes, well this past summer
00:18:32.47\00:18:38.98
I told the children
how to plant in the yard.
00:18:39.01\00:18:43.35
I said listen, they
were eating a cantaloupe.
00:18:43.39\00:18:46.02
Look at all these
seeds in this cantaloupe.
00:18:46.05\00:18:48.16
What do you think we're
going to do with these seeds.
00:18:48.19\00:18:50.96
Throw them away?
00:18:50.99\00:18:52.33
I said no, let's go
outside and throw in the garden
00:18:52.36\00:18:55.36
and see if they grow.
00:18:55.40\00:18:57.13
And we dug up the
yard and they dug it up
00:18:57.17\00:19:01.27
and they planted
the watermelon seed,
00:19:01.30\00:19:03.47
they planted watermelon seed
00:19:03.51\00:19:04.91
just from
watermelons we were eating.
00:19:04.94\00:19:07.01
And they planted cantaloupe
and I got some tomato plants
00:19:07.04\00:19:11.75
and we planted upside down
00:19:11.78\00:19:13.28
because I'd never
planted upside down tomatoes.
00:19:13.31\00:19:15.88
So we put them in
the pot and we planted.
00:19:15.92\00:19:18.62
They were so many.
00:19:18.65\00:19:19.99
Every day they
ran outside to see.
00:19:20.02\00:19:21.72
I said go outside
and see the watermelons,
00:19:21.76\00:19:23.43
come up, go outside.
00:19:23.46\00:19:25.36
And when they came up,
they couldn't believe it.
00:19:25.39\00:19:27.43
The said there they are,
look I see them, I see them.
00:19:27.46\00:19:30.27
They were so excited,
00:19:30.30\00:19:32.53
and when we
opened up and they...
00:19:32.57\00:19:36.10
So they started growing?
00:19:36.14\00:19:37.47
They started growing
00:19:37.51\00:19:38.84
and every day
they ran out there.
00:19:38.87\00:19:40.21
It's getting
bigger, I see another one,
00:19:40.24\00:19:41.98
I see another one.
00:19:42.01\00:19:43.35
And that was
very exciting to them.
00:19:43.38\00:19:45.41
They were really excited.
00:19:45.45\00:19:47.55
And I said well I
think they're ready now.
00:19:47.58\00:19:49.72
Let's go out
there and pick them.
00:19:49.75\00:19:51.72
And we brought
them in and washed them
00:19:51.75\00:19:53.32
and they just could not believe
00:19:53.36\00:19:55.59
that this was
something they had done.
00:19:55.62\00:19:58.13
They had planted the
seeds and they had grown.
00:19:58.16\00:20:01.20
So they just can't
wait till this summer.
00:20:01.23\00:20:03.10
Well what else
are we going to plant?
00:20:03.13\00:20:04.47
We can plant some other things.
00:20:04.50\00:20:05.83
I say, well, I have
to go and get the man
00:20:05.87\00:20:07.20
to till the ground now.
00:20:07.24\00:20:09.04
You've got a whole big
garden in the back yard.
00:20:09.07\00:20:12.24
They really enjoyed that.
00:20:12.27\00:20:14.21
And to make things, you know.
00:20:14.24\00:20:16.28
They make things. They
take real things, nothing.
00:20:16.31\00:20:20.32
The lady next door
bought a refrigerator
00:20:20.35\00:20:23.52
and it came in this big box.
00:20:23.55\00:20:24.89
They said can I have your box?
00:20:24.92\00:20:26.59
And she says, oh sure.
00:20:26.62\00:20:28.19
And we got the box
and we made a house
00:20:28.22\00:20:29.92
out of the box
and they painted it
00:20:29.96\00:20:32.29
and they had really
and I just enjoy it.
00:20:32.33\00:20:35.96
It makes me feel,
they make me feel young.
00:20:36.00\00:20:38.57
I like to sit down
just to see them happy.
00:20:38.60\00:20:44.31
And the other grandchildren,
00:20:44.34\00:20:46.61
all my grandchildren
except one grandchild,
00:20:46.64\00:20:50.15
another about 17
year old lives in Memphis.
00:20:50.18\00:20:55.25
The other children are scattered
00:20:55.28\00:20:56.92
all over the place.
00:20:56.95\00:20:58.29
But I do once a
year, I've been doing this
00:20:58.32\00:21:00.56
ever since they were
born, I take them on a trip.
00:21:00.59\00:21:04.03
What? All your grandkids?
00:21:04.06\00:21:05.39
All my
grandchildren. Are you serious?
00:21:05.43\00:21:06.76
You take them all? All of them.
00:21:06.80\00:21:08.16
Just me and my grandchildren.
00:21:08.20\00:21:10.47
The parents stay home.
00:21:10.50\00:21:11.83
Yeah, the parents stay
home, I have for whole week.
00:21:11.87\00:21:15.24
I've been doing it
ever since they were born.
00:21:15.27\00:21:18.01
I take them on
a trip every year.
00:21:18.04\00:21:21.04
We go somewhere.
00:21:21.08\00:21:22.68
And last year we
went to the eastern shore.
00:21:22.71\00:21:25.18
You've been to
the eastern shore.
00:21:25.21\00:21:27.78
And I rented a cabin
right there on the water
00:21:27.82\00:21:31.72
and we stayed the whole week.
00:21:31.75\00:21:33.66
They had a ball. So
that's what I like doing.
00:21:33.69\00:21:37.79
That's what I do
with all my grandchildren.
00:21:37.83\00:21:40.80
So where are you
guys going this year?
00:21:40.83\00:21:42.96
Well, we're going to St. Louis.
00:21:43.00\00:21:44.57
I rented 12-passenger
00:21:44.60\00:21:46.63
'cause now I had
the 12 passenger van.
00:21:46.67\00:21:51.61
I used to just get a van
but now it's a 12 passenger.
00:21:51.64\00:21:54.11
It might be a
16-passenger. Right.
00:21:54.14\00:21:56.44
Because you have to
drive and there's 12 of them.
00:21:56.48\00:21:59.38
No one else comes with you?
00:21:59.41\00:22:00.85
No one. Seriously, just you?
00:22:00.88\00:22:02.55
Just me.
00:22:02.58\00:22:03.92
And you're almost 70
00:22:03.95\00:22:05.69
and God gives
you all this energy?
00:22:05.72\00:22:07.09
That's right.
00:22:07.12\00:22:08.46
And I rent the van
00:22:08.49\00:22:09.82
and this year
we're going to St. Louis,
00:22:09.86\00:22:13.46
then we're going
down the eastern coast.
00:22:13.50\00:22:15.90
We wanted North
Carolina, South Carolina
00:22:15.93\00:22:18.27
and we're just going
to just drive all around
00:22:18.30\00:22:20.04
and take in some,
because during the year
00:22:20.07\00:22:23.24
the older ones look up
00:22:23.27\00:22:24.81
and see what they'd like to
see in these different states.
00:22:24.84\00:22:27.91
So we gonna hit all these states
00:22:27.94\00:22:30.65
and find out what
they wanted to see
00:22:30.68\00:22:32.31
so we're going to
have a journey this time.
00:22:32.35\00:22:34.58
We'll have two weeks this year.
00:22:34.62\00:22:36.95
So we're going to have a
very, I think a very good time.
00:22:36.99\00:22:39.72
I think so too.
And they're older now.
00:22:39.75\00:22:42.69
The little ones are
older so they can enjoy
00:22:42.72\00:22:46.09
the traveling
more and learning more.
00:22:46.13\00:22:49.66
So what's the age difference?
00:22:49.70\00:22:51.03
What's the ages of the oldest
grandchild and the youngest?
00:22:51.07\00:22:54.27
My oldest grandchild is...
00:22:54.30\00:22:56.74
He will be 18,
in fact he'll be 18.
00:22:56.77\00:22:59.54
So he can help drive.
00:22:59.57\00:23:00.91
He hasn't got
his driver's license
00:23:00.94\00:23:02.81
although he really
wants, he says, grandma,
00:23:02.84\00:23:04.55
I really want.
00:23:04.58\00:23:05.91
And I said, you know insurance
is really high for a male.
00:23:05.95\00:23:11.15
He says but I
really want to drive.
00:23:11.19\00:23:13.36
So I don't know if his parents
00:23:13.39\00:23:15.06
are thinking about
it, thinking about.
00:23:15.09\00:23:17.16
His grades are great so
they are thinking about it.
00:23:17.19\00:23:19.56
But yes, 18 to 8 years old.
00:23:19.59\00:23:23.97
The youngest is 8. Wow.
00:23:24.00\00:23:26.27
And do they all get along?
00:23:26.30\00:23:27.87
Yeah, how do the
grandkids get along
00:23:27.90\00:23:29.67
and especially the
ones that are with you now?
00:23:29.70\00:23:32.14
How do the other grandkids,
00:23:32.17\00:23:33.91
how are they feeling about that?
00:23:33.94\00:23:35.98
They get along great.
00:23:36.01\00:23:37.45
They get along
great and they're happy
00:23:37.48\00:23:40.12
because I can talk to
them and we talk on the phone
00:23:40.15\00:23:43.69
and we tell them, well,
grandmother did that with me.
00:23:43.72\00:23:47.32
That's nothing new, she
did that when I was eight.
00:23:47.36\00:23:51.19
So they can relate to
it and they're not jealous
00:23:51.23\00:23:55.46
or anything so it's to me...
00:23:55.50\00:23:58.53
Because I really love children.
I really love children.
00:23:58.57\00:24:02.00
Children don't bother me.
00:24:02.04\00:24:03.97
You know some people say
00:24:04.01\00:24:05.34
how can you have
all these children,
00:24:05.37\00:24:06.74
how can you have
these grandchildren.
00:24:06.78\00:24:08.11
They'll drive me crazy.
00:24:08.14\00:24:09.48
They're going to ask
millions of questions.
00:24:09.51\00:24:11.08
I say, I love it, I really do.
00:24:11.11\00:24:15.15
That is awesome. So
when you travel do you...
00:24:15.18\00:24:18.85
I mean, what do you do?
00:24:18.89\00:24:20.22
How do you afford to
be able to feed everybody,
00:24:20.26\00:24:22.36
you know how does that work out?
00:24:22.39\00:24:23.73
Well I do like my
parents did to us.
00:24:23.76\00:24:26.09
Because my parents, they travel,
00:24:26.13\00:24:28.26
they took us everywhere.
00:24:28.30\00:24:29.63
They wanted us to be
exposed to different cultures
00:24:29.66\00:24:31.70
and different places and all.
00:24:31.73\00:24:34.50
So I have a great big
ice chest, two of them,
00:24:34.54\00:24:37.07
ice chests and as we travel
we stop at the grocery store.
00:24:37.11\00:24:40.68
We buy food and sometimes
along the way we barbecue.
00:24:40.71\00:24:44.81
We put the food
in, we get to the park
00:24:44.85\00:24:47.05
and we set up everything.
00:24:47.08\00:24:48.55
They love it.
00:24:48.58\00:24:50.25
And I say, oh, this is
what we're going to do.
00:24:50.29\00:24:52.42
So cost wise we
don't, we try to do things...
00:24:52.45\00:24:59.29
So once a day.
00:24:59.33\00:25:00.86
Okay, once a day you
get a meal at a restaurant.
00:25:00.90\00:25:04.57
That means we eat breakfast
cereal, nuts and grains.
00:25:04.60\00:25:08.47
So once a day you
eat at a restaurant?
00:25:08.50\00:25:11.84
Once a day.
00:25:11.87\00:25:13.21
The whole
group? The whole group.
00:25:13.24\00:25:14.58
And after that
you do sandwiches.
00:25:14.61\00:25:16.04
You've got double
coolers and drinks
00:25:16.08\00:25:18.28
and everybody's
having a good time.
00:25:18.31\00:25:20.02
Singing, do you?
00:25:20.05\00:25:21.78
You know, traveling and talking?
00:25:21.82\00:25:23.75
And now that they got older.
00:25:23.79\00:25:26.02
This one's got this
iPad, this one has this
00:25:26.05\00:25:28.49
and they look at movies
and they just have a ball
00:25:28.52\00:25:31.76
but most of the time
I do not let them look,
00:25:31.79\00:25:34.23
I say look at the scenery.
00:25:34.26\00:25:35.90
This is where we're going.
00:25:35.93\00:25:37.33
So, and they enjoy
it, they really do.
00:25:37.37\00:25:40.80
Wow, Sister Robinson!
00:25:40.84\00:25:42.17
You are an
amazing, amazing woman.
00:25:42.20\00:25:45.41
But I enjoy it.
00:25:45.44\00:25:46.78
Because no day is the same
00:25:46.81\00:25:49.84
and that's what I like about it.
00:25:49.88\00:25:51.21
You go to a job
and do the same thing.
00:25:51.25\00:25:53.11
But raising
children is never the same.
00:25:53.15\00:25:56.75
And that's what I
really truly enjoy.
00:25:56.79\00:25:59.35
I don't know when I
wake up in the morning,
00:25:59.39\00:26:00.89
I don't know what that
day's going to hold for me.
00:26:00.92\00:26:03.29
And sometimes it holds wonders
and sometimes my grandson says
00:26:03.32\00:26:07.90
Grandmother, I
want to go to school.
00:26:07.93\00:26:10.37
I say today is Sunday,
don't go to school on Sunday.
00:26:10.40\00:26:14.37
But I'm just glad that
they're really enjoying school
00:26:14.40\00:26:17.34
and they're learning.
00:26:17.37\00:26:19.01
And the
environment, that's a really,
00:26:19.04\00:26:22.01
they're really enjoying that.
00:26:22.04\00:26:24.41
What advice could
you give to a grandparent
00:26:24.45\00:26:27.28
or another relative
00:26:27.32\00:26:28.85
that's taking on
children in their home?
00:26:28.88\00:26:31.75
What could you share with them
00:26:31.79\00:26:34.09
as far as what they
could expect or how to do it?
00:26:34.12\00:26:37.33
Well, the first thing is
just take one day at a time.
00:26:37.36\00:26:42.40
Listen to the child, find
out what the child's needs are
00:26:42.43\00:26:46.40
and try to
incorporate that into that day.
00:26:46.43\00:26:49.84
Some children they feel bad.
00:26:49.87\00:26:51.97
Children are just
like us, human being.
00:26:52.01\00:26:55.28
They're just little people.
00:26:55.31\00:26:56.71
They have bad days,
they have good days,
00:26:56.75\00:26:59.05
they have days they
don't want to feel like doing,
00:26:59.08\00:27:01.05
just like we.
00:27:01.08\00:27:02.42
So to just give them love.
00:27:02.45\00:27:05.45
Whatever state they
are in that they know
00:27:05.49\00:27:08.12
that I am loved, I'm
appreciated, I am wanted.
00:27:08.16\00:27:11.83
And I think that
is the main thing
00:27:11.86\00:27:13.96
with raising children
is that they will feel safe
00:27:14.00\00:27:18.70
and they'll feel cared
about and they want to feel that
00:27:18.73\00:27:22.90
somebody cares for
them just like they are.
00:27:22.94\00:27:26.11
They might be different.
00:27:26.14\00:27:29.71
Just like my grandkids
were so far behind at school.
00:27:29.74\00:27:32.41
She just felt so bad
that she could not read
00:27:32.45\00:27:35.38
but to encourage them
you know and to love them
00:27:35.42\00:27:38.65
and say I don't
care if you can't read.
00:27:38.69\00:27:40.92
I love you just the way you are.
00:27:40.96\00:27:42.59
And you will learn how to read.
00:27:42.62\00:27:45.46
So to give them
just encouragement.
00:27:45.49\00:27:47.80
I think that's the main thing.
00:27:47.83\00:27:50.07
Thank you so much for coming
and sharing your story today,
00:27:50.10\00:27:52.93
Sister Robinson.
00:27:52.97\00:27:54.30
It has just been wonderful
to hear all the details about
00:27:54.34\00:27:57.71
what's been involved
in taking on grandkids.
00:27:57.74\00:28:00.08
And for those of you at
home, we thank you so much
00:28:00.11\00:28:02.51
for watching the program today.
00:28:02.54\00:28:03.88
We hope that it's
been a real blessing.
00:28:03.91\00:28:06.35
Clearly, you know, her life
has been enriched as a result
00:28:06.38\00:28:09.35
and we know that
yours will be the same.
00:28:09.38\00:28:11.25
With God all
things are possible.
00:28:11.29\00:28:12.82
Have a blessed day.
00:28:12.85\00:28:14.19