Health awareness as a sign of appreciation
Sat 2:14 pm +00:00, 21 Jun 2025 6
Grandparents are a treasure for society.
It is therefore all the more important that they remain fit and healthy for themselves, but also for the family and especially for the grandchildren. Grandparents are still considered the closest caregivers of grandchildren. In the social structure of the family, too, they form an important link between the generations – today more than ever. They take on many tasks in the day-to-day support of the family apparatus – and do so out of pure goodness of heart, without receiving any financial compensation in return.
Comparisons: According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, grandparents in our neighbouring country perform 160 million hours of unpaid care work per year, which roughly corresponds to an economic output of more than 8 billion Swiss francs (7.28 billion euros).
Based on similar conditions, this would mean for Austria that senior citizens in this country spend the equivalent of 166 million hours on caring for grandchildren, which can be put at an economic output of 7.547 billion euros. Whether in the role of preserver of family tradition, educator with “softened” rules, additional stable caregiver or teacher, grandparents can contribute to the positive development of grandchildren. And also in terms of nutrition, you can still pass on a lot of interesting things to the children and grandchildren, away from the fast-food paths. This makes it all the more important for the 50+ generation to pay attention to intact cardiovascular health.
Source: https://www.burgerstein.at/gb/en/guidebook/guidbooks-1/cardiovascular-health
Rules for Christian Households
Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
I don’t see any point in having children if you’re going to hand them over to grandparents or someone else to look after them.
Surely by the time people have retired, they should be free to live their own lives, not start child-minding all over again.
With a remark like that you must be a very callus person. Try saying that to the many loving grandparents out there and they will tell you differently.
Personally, I love my grandchildren and can’t see enough of them. They will be down today and I’m very much looking forward to seeing them. Bless them! Bless them all!
Hi Belyi, don’t you have Grandchildren of your own? I’m with Gordon on this, I love my Grandchildren. Oh I moan sometimes, but that’s because of me being a moaning old bastard, but when the phone rings for Granddad to pick them up, I’m all, no problem love, I’ll be there ASAP. Love it.
I had a patient a while back who had a son and then, unexpectedly she had another baby. Her MIL told her not to worry because she would help out. However, every time she asked her, she had something else to do: an appointment, lunch with her friends, etc.
A colleague of mine had two daughters and was having trouble with the child minder. He could not see why his MIL couldn’t take early retirement and look after them. I tried to point out that she had brought up her own children and so why would she want to start all over again? Especially as taking early retirement would mean she missed out on a full pension for all the years she’d worked.
Just a couple of examples.
Yes I can see your point Belyi, and in the circumstances you mention I agree. I don’t think many grandparents would want to be full time childminders.
A friend who has Parkinson’s has been very helpful to her daughter who is a freelancer, by taking her children for a week here and there during holidays.
However, my friend recently had a brain fog spell and at Easter was unable to look after the children. Her daughter, who barely makes ends meet, was obliged to take a week away from work herself. Daughter and SIL communicate by screaming at each other so that’s no solution, and the daughter is in difficulties for the summer holidays.
My friend’s medication has been changed so she may be able to help out, but it’s not a sure thing. Grandparents aren’t getting younger so the time may come when they can’t do it any more.