Show t tI Time T I t I I I II hear all this talk about time for doing things in the retirement retirement retire retire- ment years ears writes a Mississippi l lady who retired after 30 years in a department store She adds It didn't work out that way for me I have become an unpaid babysitter for several grand children children children chil chil- dren and frequently have to cook for two families I guess I dont don't really mind it but I do wonder how my children and grandchildren grandchildren grand grand- children got along before I had all this time on my hands The truth of the matter of course is that they got along probably very well f. f The babysitting trap is a ana na natural natural tural for doting grandparents Often it starts out easily enough during some somo special emergency and the emergency is extended extended extended ex ex- tended into a matter of routine Its It's more convenient to take the kids to grandma cheaper too But what's a grandmother to todo todo todo do asks the lady Simple A grandmother should help when help is needed but should not in the retirement years ears become a slave to her hel children and their families Someone Someone Some Some- one who has worked for 30 years deserves something better E Exclusive clus c of emergencies a a. grandmother should decide wheel children arc are to visit her and when everyone is invited over for din dinn ner nero Grandmother isn't being hard when she sets the terms she is being realistic In the final analysis both children and grandchildren grand children will respect her more for her independence The retirement years should offer a a certain amount of inde lade Obligations remain of ot course but when one doesn't have to punch a time clock there becomes a certain amount of f free ree- ree in- in inthe the choice of what one wishes to door or do How Ilow does docs a grandmother say no the lady asks She can say it outright Or she can find herself another obliga obliga- tion A time part job Club or civic work Church activities There are many opportunities Grandmother becomes an unpaid babysitter simply because she has nothing else to do and because she is willing to accept the assign assign- ment If she is unwilling or if she has something else of her own to do other arrangements will be made After all everyone got along when grandma was working nine to five |