Family Dynamics

Women aged 55 and older often have diverse family dynamics, shaped by a range of factors like cultural background, prior life events, and social standards. At this stage in our lives, us women are adjusting to our new roles and balancing our own priorities alongside the needs of our families. As a result, family dynamics can become transformed. This transformation presents both difficulties and changes for us ladies over 60.

Two years ago, my partner, Curtis, and I moved down south to Florida from Pennsylvania in order to be closer to my youngest son and his growing clan. We had a grandchild that hadn't yet met us, and another on the way. Leaving my eldest son's family was hard - their daughter was twelve when we left - but I reasoned that she knew who her Grandma was, whereas my other grandchild didn't. Additionally, I had to say goodbye to my sister's family and my seventy four-year-old dad. This move was certainly bittersweet: a major change for our whole family.

Becoming a grandmother has been one of the most fulfilling and exciting experiences of my life. I love watching my granddaughters grow and change over time; it's like witnessing an uninhibited version of life itself unfold before me. My middle granddaughter, who used to be a quiet three-year-old, can now carry on conversations with ease. The youngest, at one year old, is just beginning to walk, and every time we see her, she looks different from the previous week. And then there's my eldest granddaughter - she's twelve now and headed to junior high school this fall. Seeing her create videos with her own graphics and voice is nothing short of incredible. It feels like only yesterday that she was just starting kindergarten! When we visited up north a few weeks ago, she struck me as so grown-up already.

As my father grows older, we are all grateful to my younger sister for taking care of him when he needs it. He lives in a retirement village, but near enough to medical help should the need arise. My sister's family dynamics are in constant flux, since she is the one who tends to our father's needs when necessary. She does it with a warm and welcoming heart and the two of them are very close. She has young school aged children and they adore their Pa-Pa. A fun fact about me: I have a  brother, 17 years younger and a sister, 22 years years younger than me.

Family dynamics for women in my/our age group have unique families that involve a variety of highs and lows. With roles as mothers, grandmothers, caregivers, and spouses, we are in a pivotal stage of our life. We must look to both their own goals and aspirations and accommodate the dynamic nature of our families. By drawing on the relationships we've created through the years, us women can exercise strength and resilience. Through communication, comprehension, and flexibility, those of us aged 60+ can tackle these complex matters and foster intimate relationships with our families.