#Risk of rain 1 grandparent free#
“I’ll be as free as a breeze,” she laughs. Viv Robertson envisages resuming golf, bridge and genealogy three years from now - when the five older grandchildren are at school. For us this level of supergran support is dreamsville - yet it’s increasingly what modern parenting requires. Their storybook grandparenting causes heart pangs for other Swans with grandchildren overseas and an altogether different anguish for those in sole income households, with demanding jobs and/or elderly dependants.
It wouldn’t occur to the Robertsons that their support translates into a sizeable economic contribution to two households and therefore the nation’s GDP. Viv counts herself privileged that her involvement is welcomed, that she can bond with her grandchildren in these crucial early years and lighten the load for her children. Weekends at the beach house often entail taking grandkids so their parents can have time out. Wednesdays are free but she’ll give them up too if needed. The two young families - belonging to son Scot and daughter-in-law Ngarangi and daughter Rachael and son-in-law Viggo - are now her priority four to seven days a week. I retired early at 50 and I’m bouncier and fitter than six years ago. She has all the fun of confident, experienced mothering without the yoke of responsibility. But Viv, who nursed for six years and helped Grant run the family business for 20, is in grandma heaven.
Some days she leaves home at 7.30am arriving back at 7.30pm to find husband Grant “patiently waiting”. Awed, we listen to “retired” Viv’s working week: nappies, meal preparation, music group, kindy pickups, baby bathing. All eyes turn admiringly to Viv Robertson, 56, (above) who’s acquired six grandchildren in six years: three-month-old Abigail, two-year-old twins Dominic and Oliver, Keeley, two, Brynn four and Riely six. At our North Shore reunion dinners photos are flourished and the score updated: Lyn, Robyn, Noelene, Pauline, Kay, Pennie, Jan and Jenny: nil Liz: one Kay and Brenda: two apiece. Welcome to The Grandparent Trap.Īround age 50 a ritual started among the Westlake Swans - the women’s crew I used to row for. For one battling band the familial ties are more like manacles. The best thing about grandchildren is that after hours of happy chat and storybooks you can hand them back and head home to blessed silence and a G&T.Įxcept, as JENNY CHAMBERLAIN discovers, grandparenting is changing, getting tougher, more demanding. N orth and South Article – July 2003 The grand parent trap Ruby has been on holiday with the grandparents since last Saturday I’ve missed her so much She is literally the reason why I’m still here today My little inspiration My miracle child Mum with an inoperable and currently stable Brain Tumour I’m very open and outspoken about my life and my beliefs We talk about our doubts and our moments of insecurities everyday We talk about how we're inspired by life We recognise little miracles every day, and that's how I’m raising our miracle child Each day brings new opportunities, allowing you to constantly live with love Be there for others Bring a little light into someone's day Be grateful and live each day to the fullest.
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