|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Wisdom of the Aged:
Octogenarian Pens Senior Survival Guide for Living
With Kids
Blind for 12 years she is working on new book, too
 Feb.
7, 2005 - For Margaret Rodgers, life with kids is never dull, especially
when those “kids” are adult children. The 88 year-old has just published
her first book, “The Other Way Home: A Guide for Seniors Who Live with
Their Children.”
The book is a light-hearted look at what happens
when three generations attempt to merge into one “happy family.” It
offers practical advice about the joys and potential pitfalls of moving
in with grown children.
“Nearly one-fourth of the adult children in this
country will host a parent in their homes at some point in their lives.
My book addresses this issue from a senior’s perspective.”
Rodgers’ book is based on the ten years that she
lived with her children following the death of her husband in 1992. She
admits that moving in with kids is not always a bed of roses - for
anyone. “There is a tremendous period of adjustment that must take place
anytime someone joins an existing household. But there are things that
everyone can do to ease that transition.”
Rodgers’ youngest daughter Alexandra, now in her
late forties, penned the book’s afterword. In it she offers her
“sandwich generation” ruminations on life with an aging parent. “It’s an
experience that will challenge you greatly, reward you more greatly, and
grow you as a human being in ways otherwise impossible,” she said.
Is there an equation for success when living with
kids?
Rodgers thinks so. “Your attitude is the key. Most
people will experience some anxiety about moving in with their kids, and
many do it because they have lost a spouse or have medical or financial
problems. But a positive attitude can make all the difference in whether
or not anything in your life is successful,” she said.
Rodgers should know. Despite the fact that she has
been legally blind for over twelve years, she is eagerly working on her
next project: a modern-day alternative to the traditional family
reunion. Stay tuned.
The Other Way Home: A Guide for Seniors Who Live
with Their Children is available in both paperback and e-book
versions at
www.SeniorInTheHouse.com
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
