Raising your grandchild is not something anyone plans for but it happens and you step up without a thought about what it might mean in the long run. You just do it. With love. I was 56 years old when my grandson came to live with me. He was 15 months old and now he is 15 years old! He is my joy and my purpose amid the many struggles we both face. I love him with all my heart and wish that I could give him so much more.
Recently, my grandson's birth parents stopped paying child support based on my adopting him two years ago. I represented myself in the adoption and apparently misunderstood some legal advice I was given. I thought I could continue to receive child support. One of the birth parents decided to contest the child support and without warning the child support stopped. Now, the birth parents are pursuing me to pay back the child support from the last two years. I am seeking help on this issue through a legal aid service but in the meantime we need to move to a less expensive apartment.
It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I have struggled financially over the years. Since retiring which I did because I could not meet the time line demands of my social work position, the struggle has been even more real and stressful. While not financially sound, retiring was also what my grandson needed at the time and still needs. So here I am. I have no assets. I don't spend money on myself. We live on my social security, small pension and dependent child benefits from my social security. I spend exactly what I take in and sometimes I don't have enough to cover it all. Asking for help is not easy for me but I have come to the conclusion that my life lesson is to ask for help when needed. So, I am trying to raise money for the movers, a security deposit and one month's rent to help me stay ahead of the game, if that is even possible. If you read this whole post, thank you and bless you! And, if you or someone you know has a heart for grandparents raising grandchildren, please consider helping this grammy out.
Recently, my grandson's birth parents stopped paying child support based on my adopting him two years ago. I represented myself in the adoption and apparently misunderstood some legal advice I was given. I thought I could continue to receive child support. One of the birth parents decided to contest the child support and without warning the child support stopped. Now, the birth parents are pursuing me to pay back the child support from the last two years. I am seeking help on this issue through a legal aid service but in the meantime we need to move to a less expensive apartment.
It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I have struggled financially over the years. Since retiring which I did because I could not meet the time line demands of my social work position, the struggle has been even more real and stressful. While not financially sound, retiring was also what my grandson needed at the time and still needs. So here I am. I have no assets. I don't spend money on myself. We live on my social security, small pension and dependent child benefits from my social security. I spend exactly what I take in and sometimes I don't have enough to cover it all. Asking for help is not easy for me but I have come to the conclusion that my life lesson is to ask for help when needed. So, I am trying to raise money for the movers, a security deposit and one month's rent to help me stay ahead of the game, if that is even possible. If you read this whole post, thank you and bless you! And, if you or someone you know has a heart for grandparents raising grandchildren, please consider helping this grammy out.
Organizer
Linda Weinmann
Organizer
Dallas, TX