[alaskax8]

My oldest daughter meet a neet freind this year in school. Since Aug 03 she and her 3 siblings have been spending EVERY WEEKEND with our family from friday 4pm to sunday 8pm. We also have them EVERY school break, and any day school is not in session for any reason. We really enjoy having them in our home even though that makes 8 children and their ages are 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,2. Four are ours. There grandma has full foster rights for them. Also she is carring for a terminal husband who lives in the house next door. The 2 and 4 year old spend from 8am to 7pm in a daycare facility and the 7 and 6 year old are in school from 8am to 3:30pm. Do you think she is overwhelmed? Do you feel she is "pawning" the children so she does not have to deal or care for them during the day? When the children come over they slip and call us mom and dad. Also when it is time to go to grandmas the girls have a tantrum and don't want to go, they want to stay at our house. We are not sure where we stand in this situation. We do not want to take grandma out of there lives, just allow grandma to be a grandma and not have to worry about raising 4 mor children. Any advise on what we can do from here. It is getting vert expensive to continue to support a family of 10 on one income, the states help would help a lot.

[LucyNJ]

I would explain to grandmom that it is becomming very expensive for you to provide for the children, tell her you do not mind helping out but she will need to help you so you are able to continue to help her and the children. She is very lucky to have you. Also you may want to talk with her about you being named as an offical respite provider. I think she is most likely overwhelmed, however...who wouldn't be? In my opinion, you are doing for her what ALL neighbors should do for one another.

[jolean12]

First I want to tell you that I am sure they are lucky to have you and your family to give them support where they seem to be lacking.
I really have never been in a situation like you are talking about but have you talked to their Grandmother about this? Maybe she would be grateful for you to have them and she be just a Grandma....she may vary well be in over her head but she doesn't want them placed with someone she doesn't know or have them all seperated, which is common in foster care due to not enough spaces in one home for them all to be together. Please keep us updated and good luck.