How to prevent grandparents from being stressed and overloaded when taking care of grandchildren every summer is a question that many families have to consider to find a suitable answer.
Psychologist Mai Ngoc Quyen - NHC Vietnam Center for Human Development and Psychology - has given some suggestions to help families reduce pressure on grandparents when taking care of grandchildren, while maintaining harmony in life between generations.
Recognizing the role of babysitting in the family
The first thing is that each family needs to recognize that taking care of children is not the default responsibility and obligation of grandparents. This is support from love and the ability of individuals in the family.
When seeing this as a duty, grandparents easily fall into a state of pressure, sacrifice and feeling self-pity. But if they see it as a voluntary choice within their ability, their psychology will be much lighter.
Exchange frankly
Before asking grandparents to take care of grandchildren during the summer, the family needs to agree from the beginning on things that the elderly can support and things beyond their ability.
Grandparents also have the right to rest, maintain private activities, meet friends and have personal space. When there are suggestions from children, they should receive them with an open spirit, seeing it as a difference of generation rather than judgment.
Conversely, children also need to start with gratitude before making requests to their parents to help take care of their grandchildren.
Recording and understanding
According to expert Mai Ngoc Quyen, from a family psychological perspective, recognition and understanding often have a better bonding and healing effect than distinguishing right from wrong.
