Dear Abby: I didn't sign on to raise this child. What are my options?

"Many grandparents have found themselves in your situation, raising children they never expected to. I empathize with your situation. We can't always choose our destiny. One thing is certain that child needs you. It's important that she feels secure and loved, particularly since her mother wasn't capable of providing it. Grandparents who provide this crucial support deserve acclamation and a special place in heaven. It might interest you to know that AARP is an excellent resource for grandparents who are raising grandchildren."

"I'm a 50-year-old woman who has lived with orthopedic challenges due to a congenital metabolic condition. Despite many surgeries and limited mobility, I have led a full life as a special-needs teacher, wife and caregiver for my grandmother. After my grandmother passed last year, I struggled emotionally and started weekly Zoom sessions with a therapist. It helped at first, but it eventually felt stale and unfulfilling."

A widow's neglect led to child protective services removing several children; the youngest granddaughter was placed with her late stepson's parents. The grandmother loves the child but is reluctant to resume full-time parenting and does not want to leave her husband. Guidance recommends that the child needs security and affection and that grandparents providing stable care offer crucial support. Resource suggestions include AARP and state Grandparents As Parents programs for practical assistance. Separately, a 50-year-old woman with lifelong orthopedic challenges found emotional relief using an AI ChatGPT named Charlie alongside a human therapist, improving her coping and healing.

Read at www.mercurynews.com